CRANS-SUR-SIERRE (Switzerland), Sept 5: Sergio Garcia clinched his first European Tour title of the season with a one-shot victory at the European Masters on Sunday after chipping in for birdie at the par-three 16th. The world number six, one stroke clear overnight, had surrendered a four-shot advantage with a mid-round stumble before recovering on his way to a three-under-par 68 and a 72-hole total of 14-under 270.

Sweden’s Peter Gustafsson secured second place with an equal best-of-the-week 64 with British Ryder Cup player Paul Casey a further shot back in third after a 66.

Defending champion Luke Donald, also of Britain, returned a 69 to tie for fourth at 11 under with compatriot Garry Houston, who carded a 70.

Garcia had looked unassailable after reeling off four birdies in five holes from the fourth, overpowering Cran-sur-Sierre’s shorter par-fours and forging well ahead of the chasing pack with a 200-foot birdie putt on eight.

However, he lost grounds with bogeys on 10 and 14 before effectively sealing the sixth European Tour victory of his career with his chip-in on 16.

Leading final round scores:

270 — Sergio Garcia (Spain) 66, 65, 71, 68.

271 — Peter Gustafsson (Sweden) 69, 70, 68, 64.

272 — Paul Casey (Britain) 67, 72, 67, 66.

273 — Luke Donald (Britain) 66, 72, 66, 69; Garry Houston (Britain) 65, 69, 69, 70.

274 — Pierre Fulke (Sweden) 69, 67, 70, 68.

275 — Philip Golding (Britain) 68, 73, 66, 68; Stuart Little (Britain) 69, 70, 69, 67.

276 — Jamie Spence (Britain) 71, 70, 70, 65; Paul Broadhurst (Britain) 67, 69, 71, 69; Steven O’Hara (Britain) 70, 69, 70, 67; Emanuele Canonica (Italy) 71, 68, 69, 68.

277 — Miguel Angel Jimenez (Spain) 71, 69, 67, 70; Henrik Stenson (Sweden) 70, 68, 69, 70.

278 — Damien McGrane (Ireland) 68, 71, 74, 65; Bradley Dredge (Britain) 72, 68, 67, 71.