Gleneagles, Scotland, June 24: Soren Kjeldsen held his nerve at the Diageo Championship on Sunday to win his first European tour title. Seemingly home and dry after carding a 67 to reach nine under par on Saturday, the 28-year-old Kjeldsen saw his overnight five-stroke lead cut to two during a stuttering front nine at Gleneagles. But the diminutive Dane knuckled down on the back nine, returned to level par for the day and closed out a two-shot victory over Scotland's Alastair Forsyth. Former Ryder Cup man Paul Broadhurst claimed third place, his best finish since 1999, on six under, and Colin Montgomerie was a shot further back on five under after birdieing the last two holes.
Kjeldsen's win - overdue after three top-10 finishes this season - earned him £200,000 and lifts the Dane into seventh place in the Order of Merit.

His 72-hole total of 279 was 17 more than Australia's Adam Scott took when he triumphed by 10 here last August, but that can be explained by the stiff winds on the first two days and punitive rough.

Londoner Chris Gane will testify to that. His 17 on the final hole in the second round was the second highest score in tour history - and four others hit double figures too.

The key to Kjeldsen's success was keeping a double bogey off his card all week.

"It's fantastic," said Kjeldsen, whose wife Charlotte is expecting their first child in three months. "I can't ask for anything more."

Bureau Report