Brilliant win for McDowell in Celtic Manor.

Graeme McDowell produced a simply brilliant victory in The Celtic Manor Wales Open after an exhilarating final round.

Playing on The Twenty Ten Course where he hopes to earn his second Ryder Cup cap against the Americans in October, the 30 year old Northern Irishman was forced to pull out all the stops to grab his fifth European Tour title.

In-form Welshman Rhys Davies was the man to put the heat on with a stunning course record 62 that saw him cover the middle 12 holes in ten under par.

But McDowell matched the 25 year old's front nine 30, started for home with two more birdies and, with a three stroke lead once Davies had bogeyed the difficult 16th, did not let the opportunity slip.

A closing 63 for a 15 under par total of 269 gave McDowell, winless since the 2008 Barclays Scottish Open, the €350,940 first prize by three and left Davies a runner-up for the second week running.

Peter Lawrie and Damien McGrane both finished with 71s for a share of 20th place and a cheque for €23,192.Gareth Maybin recovered with a closing 68 to jump into 27th and collect €19,688.
In 39th place was Darren Clarke 73 and Shane Lowry 74.They were on +2 and lifted €12,844 each while Simon Thornton after a brilliant start finished down in 61st on +5 and won €5,580.

Paul McGinley +5 and Gary Murphy +8 both missed the +3 cut mark.