Des Smyth's success extends to five decades as Carl Mason falters

Bill Longmuir's hopes of a ninth Senior Tour victory fell apart on the final day as Ireland's Des Smyth captured the Travis Perkins plc Senior Masters at Woburn.

Longmuir title challenge started well with two birdies to close the gap on the leader, Carl Mason of England, to one stroke but then he tumbled down the leaderboard as he dropped nine shots in the last 14 holes to fall back to a share of 17th with fellow Scot Sam Torrance, leaving Andrew Oldcorn as the leading Scot in seventh place. That left the stage clear for Mason and Smyth to fight for the title and it was Ireland's Des Smyth who came out on top as he won for a fifth successive decade and denied Mason a record 24th Senior Tour victory.

The Irishman carded a three under par 69 on a blustery Sunday at Woburn to win for the first time in three years , while overnight leader Mason faltered on the back nine, coming home in 40 to card two over par.

He said: "I felt like Seve (Ballesteros] today as he was the best at making it happen and it was one of those rounds where it did happen today.

"It is my fifth decade of winning, from the 70s to now and that was a goal of mine. I am really pleased to have got that."

Smyth won his first title in 1979 when he won the Sun Alliance Match Play Championship, winning every decade since.