Singh hits high note by doing a Faldo

(GETTY IMAGES)

Jeev Milkha Singh of India parred all 18 holes of his final round yesterday to win the Austrian Open in Vienna by a stroke. A closing 71 for a 15-under three-round total in the weather-shortened event left Singh one shot ahead of Britain's Simon Wakefield.

Singh claimed his third European Tour title in Nick Faldo fashion, copying the six-times major champion's feat of 1987 when Faldo won the British Open at Muirfield by parring every hole in the final round. Wakefield, Singh's nearest challenger overnight, began the day four behind in an event reduced to 54 holes by the washout on Thursday. The Englishman did his best to keep the heat on his playing partner by birdieing three of the last four holes.

Earlier, Ulsterman Graeme McDowell, who defeated Singh in a play-off for the Ballantines Championship in March, looked like being the Indian's nemesis again. But after closing to within two strokes, McDowell bogeyed the last two holes to finish on 11-under.

In Tennessee, Tim Clark charged into the lead after Saturday's third round at the St Jude Championship. Clark fired a six-under-par 64 to move two shots clear of five golfers on five under. The South African tore up the back nine, with an eagle and three birdies in his final five holes. Padraig Harrington shot a wonderful 66, and was four off the lead going into last night's final round. Trevor Immelman, Americans Marc Turnesa and Bill Haas, German Alex Cejka and Australian Gavin Coles lead the chasing pack.

In Maryland, never mind the pressure of a third round in a major, temperatures hit 100F (38C) and 54 people were treated for heat-related illness during the third round of the LPGA Championship on Saturday. "It was brutal," said world No 2 Annika Sorenstam. The Swede persevered to post a 68 for a share of third place alongside world No 1 Lorena Ochoa at 10-under-par 206, two shots behind leader Lee Jee-young of South Korea.

Maria Hjorth of Sweden was alone in second place, one shot off the pace.