Golf: Alfredsson caps revival

Sweden's Helen Alfredsson stood firm as an east wind troubled the field over the last nine holes at the King's Course, Gleneagles, to win the McDonald's WPGA Championship of Europe yesterday.

Alfredsson, who has struggled to regain her fitness after a pelvic operation last year, shot a closing 70 for a 12-under-par 276. She finished four strokes clear of Scotland's Kathryn Marshall and Lotta Sorenstam, who shared second place on 280.

"It has been so long," said Alfredsson, as she contemplated a succession of poor results in recent times. "A year ago I was as down as I have ever been. If this is the start of many more wins I will take it."

Alfredsson started the final round sharing the lead with Scotland's Dale Reid, but it was England's Lora Fairclough who was chasing the Swede with nine holes to play. Alfredsson, out in 34, was 13 under and one ahead of Fairclough, who toiled over the homeward run, leaving Marshall and Sorenstam to take up the challenge. Neither could make any impact on the Swede.