Golf: Madeira Island Open

Sweden's Niclas Fasth led from start to finish to claim his first European Tour title in the Madeira Island Open. Fasth had the luxury of carding a final round of 73 at Santo da Serra for a nine-under-par total of 279 and a two-stroke victory worth #56,000.

Fellow-Swede Richard Johnson, England's Mark Davis, and Scotland's Ross Drummond finished in a tie for second place on seven- under, with another Swede, Raimo Sjoberg, and midlander John Bickerton a further shot back.

The performances of Davis and Drummond, who both carded 67s, yesterday, were remarkable for differing reasons as the pair made contrasting returns to the game.

Davis, 35 from Essex, feared he may never play again after a serious knee injury decimated his season last year when he could only play in seven events.

The former English amateur champion, who needs a medical exemption to play this year, underwent a gruelling operation in which seven holes were drilled in his left knee to repair damaged cartilage under the kneecap.

''It was a bit messy with a lot of drilling,'' recalled Davis, who won two tour events in Austria in 1991 and 1994. ''I didn't hit any balls for 10 months and so it's nice to be back.

''They said it would only take four months to heal, but it wasn't getting any better until a friend recommended I went to see a doctor in Munich, Volker Smasal, who works with the Olympic skaters and skiers, and he sorted me out.

''I didn't think I'd be playing again, so I'm delighted to be out here. I can still feel it now and again, especially when playing on a slope, so this week was a very good test.

''I played the first five events and came here feeling that I was playing well.''

In contrast, Drummond was making his first appearance on the tour this year having lost his card and having to rely on invites to get into tournaments.

The 43-year-old from Prestwick - without a win in over 20 years on tour - considers himself to be 'semi-retired' as his opportunities are so limited, and even surprised himself with such a good finish, mainly thanks to an inward half of 30, highlighted with five birdies in six holes.

''I've surprised myself this week,'' said Drummond, the subject of a best-selling golf book 'Four Iron in the Soul' by musician-turned-writer Lawrence Donegan.

''It's my first start and I've played well all week. I put my clubs away after missing out at the tour school in November and only played half a dozen times since.

''I played a mini-tour event in Scotland last week and scored quite well and that gave me a bit of confidence.

''I don't have a card any more, so I can't enter for most tournaments. The starts are going to be few and far between, and I may only get four or five.

''I don't know if I am really switched on yet for playing. I haven't done much planning as I've got nothing to play in.

''I'll just compete in Scotland on the Tartan Tour. I see myself playing there and reassessing the situation later in the year.

''I felt as if I had to win here (to get an exemption). A high finish is good financially, but I really had to come out on top.''

For Fasth the win fulfilled his own predictions that a victory was around the corner and he always looked favourite throughout the final day as one by one his challengers came and went.

England's Jim Payne halved his overnight deficit with a birdie on the third hole to close to within one shot of the 27-year-old Swede, only to then drop five in the next three holes on his way to a damaging 78.

Johnson also closed the gap to two shots on two occasions, but after an outward half of 37 Fasth made crucial birdies at the tenth and eleventh holes to establish a comfortable cushion.

''It feels really good,'' said Fasth, who finished second in the qualifying school last year to regain his card.

''I played really solidly all week and although it was more difficult than I thought, I tried to play my own game and it was a case of being patient.

''I've spent so many years working on the basics and getting the swing right and now the thing is about getting results.

''This releases some of the pressure that I've been under, and gives me a lot of confidence.''

qLeading positions in the European Order of Merit after the Madeira Island Open:

1, D Clarke (Northern Ireland) #631,867; 2, M Campbell (New Zealand) #264,652; 3, G Orr (Scotland) #185,879; 4, P Price (Wales) #165,113; 5, L Parsons (Australia) #154,636; 6, J Coceres (Argentina) #152,734; 7, P McGinley (Ireland) #146,444; 8, T Bjorn (Denmark) #128,499; 9, P Senior (Australia) #128,075; 10, P Lawrie (Scotland) #127,879; 11, M Gronberg (Sweden) #115,399; 12, E Els (South Africa) #111,314; 13, R Goosen (South Africa) #100,449; 14, M A Jimenez (Spain) #97,033; 15, P Sjoland (Sweden) #95,746; 16, G Ogilvy (Australia) #92,215; 17, A Wales (England) #91,926; 18, Yeh Wei-tze (Taiwan) #85,397; 19, R Muntz (Netherlands) #83,382; 20, L Westwood (England) #75,342.

(British and Irish players unless stated)

279 - N Fasth (Sweden) 66, 72, 68, 73.

281 - R Drummond 72, 69, 73, 67; M Davis 73, 69, 72, 67; R Johnson (Sweden) 70, 75, 67, 69.

282 - J Bickerton 70, 70, 73, 69; R Sjoberg (Sweden) 71, 69, 70, 72.

283 - B Dredge 74, 71, 71, 67; D Lynn 74, 72, 69, 68; M Brier (Austria) 69, 70, 75, 69; T Gogele (Germany) 74, 69, 71, 69.

284 - A Beal 70, 70, 75, 69; S Hurd 72, 73, 70, 69.

285 - F Cupillard (France) 70, 71, 73, 71.

286 - F Valera (Spain) 75, 69, 73, 69; C Hanell (Spain) 69, 73, 73, 71; P Lawrie 72, 72, 70, 72; J Payne 71, 69, 68, 78.

287 - S Cage 70, 74, 73, 70; JM Lara (Spain) 71, 69, 77, 70; D Lee 72, 71, 71, 73; S Tinning (Denmark) 71, 73, 70, 73; D Terblanche (South Africa) 71, 74, 69, 73; H Stenson (Sweden) 68, 73, 70, 76.

288 - A Binaghi (Italy) 71, 70, 76, 71; JM Arruti (Spain) 73, 75, 72, 68; D Borrego (Spain) 72, 67, 74, 75; M Lundberg (Sweden) 69, 71, 72, 76; F Henge (Sweden) 71, 71, 70, 76.

289 - P Mitchell 73, 71, 73, 72; G Emerson 71, 71, 75, 72; S Cage 70, 74, 71, 72; S Little 73, 72, 72, 72; T Munoz (Spain) 74, 72, 72, 71; F Roca (Spain) 71, 73, 74, 71; M Blackey 77, 67, 73, 72; J Berendt (Argentina) 72, 73, 72, 72; N Henning (South Africa) 70, 72, 74, 73; S Rowe (USA) 73, 70, 71, 75; S Hurley 75, 71, 74, 69; J Robinson 72, 74, 78, 65.

290 - J Hepworth 72, 74, 73, 71; A McLardy (South Africa) 76, 71, 72, 71; P Gustafsson (Sweden) 70, 72, 74, 74; E Carlberg (Sweden) 70, 72, 78, 70; RJ Derksen (Holland) 74, 70, 70, 76.

291 - JF Lucquin (France) 75, 70, 73, 73; H Nystrom (Sweden) 73, 71, 72, 75; P McGinley 70, 77, 69, 75; E Boult (New Zealand) 68, 76, 77, 70; P Nilbrink (Sweden) 76, 68, 71, 76.

292 - M Pendaries (France) 76, 67, 72, 77; P Fowler (Australia) 76 71, 74, 71; L Kelly 71, 74, 75, 72.

293 - R Sailer (Austria) 73, 72, 75, 71; S Dodd 72, 72, 72, 77; M Lanner (Sweden) 70, 75, 75, 73; L Claverie (Spain) 71, 76, 73, 73; W Riley (Australia) 74, 74, 74, 71; I Poulter 74, 74, 77, 68.

Others included: 294 - S Richardson 73, 73, 77, 71. 295 - M Pilkington 71, 76, 75, 73; R Bland 70, 78, 76, 71. 296 - L Stanford 73, 75, 73, 75. 297 - G Houston 75, 73, 76, 73.