Jimenez wins European Masters

Spain's Miguel Angel Jimenez held off a spirited late charge from fellow Ryder Cupper, Edoardo Molinari to win the European Masters in Switzerland by three strokes.

At one stage Jimenez held a six-shot advantage and looked unstoppable as he made some vital saves to keep his lead in tact.

But the drama started on 12 when the Italian, one of Colin Montgomerie's Ryder Cup wild cards, made birdie. A two-shot swing followed on 14 that cut the gap to four, and that was followed by another two-shot swing on the par-5 15th when Molinari produced shot of the week to set up his two-foot eagle tap in.

However, the par-3 16th ended any chances of a dramatic finale when Molinari made a bogey and when Jimenez birdied 17, the lead was restored to three and the title went the way of the 46-year-old Spaniard.

"It was not easy," said Jimenez. "At one point I was six ahead of Edoardo, but at the 14th I missed the fairway with my drive and went into a bunker, missed the green with the third shot, and missed a putt for a par.

"That was a lot of misses and Edoardo hit two superb shots to two feet at the 15th where I struggled just to make par.

"But it feels good to win after so many visits to these mountains where not only had I finished second twice but also been in contention many times."

Meanwhile, teenage sensation Matteo Manassero fired a final-round 68 to finish third, but more importantly the Italian secured his playing card for next season at just 17 years of age - the youngest player ever to have done so.

Omega European Masters Crans-sur-Sierre, Switzerland September 2-5, purse €2,000,000, par 71

1   Miguel Angel Jiménez (Esp) 67 61   68   67   263   €333,330 2   Edoardo Molinari (Ita)   66   65   68   67   266   €222,220 3   Matteo Manassero (Ita)   64   67   69   68   268   €125,000 4   Seung-yul Noh (Kor)   71   66   67   67   271   €100,000 T5   Robert Coles (Eng)   66   71   67   68   272   €66,200 T5   Robert-Jan Derksen (Ned) 67   68   70   67   272   €66,200 T5   Charl Schwartzel (RSA)   68   66   70   68   272   €66,200 T5   Oliver Wilson (Eng)   68   68   67   69   272   €66,200

Note: Player in bold signifies Titleist ball usage only

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