Tuesday, May 23 2006 16:20 Hrs (IST) - World Time -

Maynooth: Thomas Bjorn overcome a disastrous opening round to win the Irish Open here Monday, closing out the weather-delayed final day with a ten-foot birdie putt.

That left the Dane with a five under par total of 283 to secure him victory by one shot from England's Paul Casey with Ulsterman Darren Clarke a further shot back in third. Bjorn's six over par 78 on Thursday equalled the highest ever opening round score for a European Tour winner, set coincidentally in Ireland in 1975 by George Burns.

A second round 66 to equal the course record put the Dane back in the hunt and that fighting spirit served the big hitting Ryder Cup player well as nerves got the better of his main challengers.

The tournament looked set for a dramatic play-off for the second consecutive year as Bjorn, Clarke and Casey approached the par five 18th all square on four under par. Bjorn hit a modest pitch and first putt but then sank his next effort for a birdie to put the pressure on the other pair.

Clarke had let a two-shot overnight lead slip when play resumed on the weather-afflicted Carton House course and a poor pitch at the last cost him dear as he scored a bogey to finish third.

Casey held a solid par but that was not enough to deny Bjorn the highest ever Irish Open first prize of 366,660 euros (470,000 dollars).

Tension was evident among the leaders over the remaining holes when play resumed Monday after torrential rain waterlogged the course and led to the suspension of play on Sunday.

Six hours had also been lost Thursday when high winds led to balls being blown off greens after they had come to rest.

Casey and Ross Fisher both dropped two shots at the start of their rounds but while Fisher continued to find the rough over the closing stages, Casey recovered with two birdies to put him in contention for the title.

But he needed a birdie on the last to put him in a play-off but a par was not good enough for the Englishman.

However, his calm performance after last week's collapse on the final holes of the British Masters should restore his bruised confidence.

Youngsters Anthony Wall and Fisher both fell away as the more senior players made their experience count.

There were high hopes at the beginning of the week that there would be an Irish winner for the first time since John O'Leary in 1982.

But Clarke's poor end to his round, Paul McGinley's retirement from the tournament with an injury and a challenge from Padraig Harrington that failed to gain momomentum despite good opening rounds left the home crowd frustrated once again.

They will have to wait until next year's 25th anniversary celebrations for their hopes to be raised again.