Richard Green wins Portugal Masters

Richard Green of Australia fired a superb final round of 65 to win the Portugal Masters at the Oceânico Victoria Golf Course in Vilamoura by two shots from a group of four players.

Green posted the clubhouse target at 18-under-par but, having dropped two shots in his last three holes and with Spain's Pablo Martin looking strong with holes left to play, it seemed the Australian would come up just short.

Martin took a three shot lead into the final round and he extended that advantage to four when a birdie at the 5th took him to 20-under-par. But, the Spaniard found a water hazard at the difficult 7th and the resulting double bogey saw him drop back behind Green.

Martin seemed to steady the ship and a birdie at the 12th took him into the lead once more. But things fell apart for the 24-year-old from there in. He made bogeys at the 13th, 15th and 16th holes to fall back to 16-under-par. A birdie on the 17th gave him hope and he stood on the final tee knowing another birdie would force a playoff. But, he found the water hazard, finished with another six and fell right back into a tie for sixth place.

With that Green was left to celebrate his third European Tour victory. "I hit the ball good all week," he said. "Today has probably been my best day with the putter I've had and that made the difference."

Sweden's Robert Karlsson finished in a tie for second with Gonzalo Fernandez-Castano of Spain, Joost Luiten of Holland and Italy's Francesco Molinari. The Italian Ryder Cup star fired his second 62 of the week and could have been a clear winner of the event had it not been for first and third rounds of 74.

Portugal Masters Oceânico Victoria Golf Course, Vilamoura, Portugal October 14-17, purse €3,000,000, par 72

1   Richard Green (Aus)   70   66   69   65   270   €500,000 T2   Francesco Molinari (Ita) 74   62   74   62   272   €199,583 T2   Robert Karlsson (Swe)   64   71   70   67   272   €199,583 T2   Gonzalo Fdez-Castano (Esp) 69 67   68   68   272   €199,583 T2   Joost Luiten (Ned)   70   68   65   69   272   €199,583 T6   David Dixon (Eng)   68   67   71   67   273   €90,000 T6   Peter Lawrie (Ire)      68   68   68   69   273   €90,000 T6   Pablo Martin (Esp)   67   68   63   75   273   €90,000

Note: Player in bold signifies Titleist ball usage only