Sunday 24 May 2015 15:57, UK
Darren Clarke will go into his national Open with renewed confidence after closing out the BMW PGA Championship with an excellent six-under 66 at Wentworth.
But while Clarke impressed on the final day, several of his prospective Ryder Cup hopefuls limped towards disappointing finishes to the European Tour's flagship event.
The new European captain got off to a great start with three birdies in the opening six holes, and he picked up further shots at 10 and 12 before blotting his card at the 14th.
Clarke responded with birdies at the final two holes to finish on two under par for the tournament alongside the star English trio of Justin Rose, Lee Westwood and Luke Donald.
Rose was strongly fancied heading into the event, but he failed to break 70 during the week and offset four birdies with as many bogeys in a lacklustre closing 72, while Donald atoned for his Saturday 77 with a three-under 69.
Westwood provided late fireworks after starting and finishing the front nine with double-bogeys either side of a birdie at the second and an eagle at the long fourth.
He was two over for the round after a bogey at 10, but he made a good four at the 12th and then birdied each of the final four holes to return an entertaining 69.
Graeme McDowell finished well down the field on two over as he failed to make much happen on day four, parring the first 13 holes before carding two bogeys and a lone birdie down the stretch.
Ernie Els also carded a 73 to close on two over, while Victor Dubuisson was a shot further back after a torrid 76, which he did well to salvage after slumping to seven over for the day after just 11 holes.
