Goosen is back in the groove

Retief Goosen celebrated his first win of the season in the Lancÿme Trophy in Paris yesterday. The Surrey-based South African had a final round of 67 to hold off Darren Clarke, of Ireland, and Michael Campbell, of New Zealand, for a one-stroke victory.

Retief Goosen celebrated his first win of the season in the Lancÿme Trophy in Paris yesterday. The Surrey-based South African had a final round of 67 to hold off Darren Clarke, of Ireland, and Michael Campbell, of New Zealand, for a one-stroke victory.

Goosen finished on 13-under-par 271 at St-Nom-la-Bretêche with Campbell and Clarke tied on second and the Masters champion, Vijay Singh, a further stroke back alongside the overnight leader, Alex Cejka of Germany.

The win - Goosen's fourth European Tour title and third on French soil after victories in the French Open in 1997 and 1999 - marked a welcome return to form for him. A superb weekend display saw him 11 under for two rounds after a 64 in the worst conditions of the week on Saturday.

Clarke was delighted with his finish after struggling badly with his game all week. The prize-money of £69,480 increased his lead in the Order of Merit over Lee Westwood to nearly £60,000. Westwood tied for seventh after a closing 68 that could have been even better but for a double-bogey on the last. Two shots behind him, Nick Faldo tied for 12th, but was pleased by another positive week's golf.

Phil Price, of Wales, continued his excellent season with a closing 63, the best round of the day, to finish alone in sixth.