VERSAILLES, France -- John Bickerton of England shot a
2-under-par 69 Sunday to win the French Open by one stroke for his
second European tour victory.
He finished at 11-under 273 and won a spot at this month's
British Open at Hoylake. His other title came last year at the
Abama Open de Canarias.
"I need to go home tonight and reflect on this win with a
couple of large beers, or even three or four," he said.
Padraig Harington (66) was at 274. Ian Poulter (69), Marcus
Fraser (69) and 2005 U.S. Open champion Michael Campbell (73) were
at 276.
Bickerton held the first- and second-round lead and began the
final round a shot behind Campbell. He pulled even with the New
Zealander with a third-hole birdie.
Campbell bogeyed the 15th but birdied the next hole to move
within a shot of Bickerton. Any chance the New Zealander had of
winning ended when he put his second shot in the water at the last
hole en route to a double bogey.
Bickerton said he thought he could win after shooting a 63
Thursday.
"This is easily the best moment in my golfing career," he
said. "And though I felt so nervous over that 2½-foot putt at the
last, this is what we play this game for. Just to feel that buzz of
winning."
Harrington also was second at last week's rain-delayed Booz
Allen Classic in Maryland.
"It is not a consolation finishing second and getting a whole
lot of Ryder Cup points, no, not at this moment," the Irishman
said. "But I can't complain as this was a very difficult golf
course for me, and I am quite happy to have done so well."