Experienced Dane has too much for novice Lee

Following a delay because of fog which would later hold up the golfers on the closing few holes, Bjorn – whose last Tour victory came in the Switzerland tournament two years ago – began with a birdie on the par-five first.

The Dane picked up three more ahead of a two on the par-three ninth, which saw him leapfrog overnight leader Lee to head into the turn at 19 under with a two-stroke advantage.

However, Lee – who had held a two-shot cushion after carding a stunning 61 on Saturday – fought back with birdies at 12, 14 and the 15th.

As the conditions again turned, with a further delay for the final group approaching the 18th, Lee was agonisingly close to sinking a birdie for the championship, which would be decided on a play-off as both men finished the regulation 72 holes locked at 20-under-par.

Lee, the 36-year-old from Stirling, recovered after a poor tee shot at the first extra hole to make par. However, that presented an opportunity for Bjorn, which the experienced Dane rolled in from 12 feet at the first time of asking.

Bjorn’s victory was reward for the 42-year-old’s consistency throughout the competition, with just two bogeys in his final card of 264.

“I had to grit my teeth for a while and I really wanted to get out and try to win a golf tournament again,” said Bjorn.

Three Yorkshire players finished in the top 30. Sheffield’s Danny Willett and Hull’s Richard Finch went into the weekend tying for third place but both faded. Willett shot 72 73, while Finch had a second hole-in-one in two weeks on Saturday in his 73, before finishing with a 72 yesterday. Malton’s Simon Dyson overtook them with weekend rounds of 68 69.

Sheffield’s US Amateur champion Matt Fitzpatrick was last night powerless to prevent Great Britain and Ireland losing the Walker Cup to the United States.

The hosts regained the Cup by opening up a 14-7 lead at the PGA Links of America in Southampton, New York.

Fitzpatrick won both his foursomes matches with Neil Raymond but lost in Saturday’s singles as the United States took charge before defeating Michael Weaver 3&2 in one of the sole victories for the visitors last night.