Dominant Bjorn ends four-year drought

The 39-year-old Dane, who had led by three strokes overnight, shot a final round four-under 68 at Penha Longa to reach a 23-under total of 265 and see off the challenge from Australian left-hander Richard Green, who closed with a 70.

Bjorn's winning total was only one stroke short of the 24-under Portuguese record set by Colin Montgomerie at Quinta do Lago in 1989.

It was Bjorn's 10th on the European Tour but his first since the Irish Open at Carton House in 2006 and he admitted: "It feels it has been a long time in coming. But I have to be pleased.

"When I saw the weather conditions I thought if I shot somewhere in the 60s I would be difficult to beat and I produced a 68.

"Richard would not go away through the first nine holes but 14th and 15th holes where I made birdies turned it around for me. I made some great shots at the right time."

Green had cut Bjorn's lead to just two shots at the par-five 12th when the leader drew gasps from the crowd by missing a putt from inside 18 inches.

But he then settled the issue with birdie putts from close range at the par 14th and five-foot on the 15th, opening up a five-shot lead that was not be closed.

Another Danish golfer Mark Haastrup, who had arrived in Portugual after five missed cuts from his previous six tournaments took third place for the first time on a main European Tour event after closing with a five-under 67.

That allowed him to overtake Irishman Damien McGrane, who had equalled the course record 64 in the first round and after a run of three successive birdies was only two behind Bjorn with six holes to play.

McGrane, who won the China Open in foul weather in 2008, has a reputation for playing his best under tough conditions. But as the wind blew at up to 30 mph during the second half of his round, he finished with six straight bogeys and a two-over 73 saw him finish fifth.

England's Robert Rock finished fourth after a final round 71, one ahead of former leader Damien McGrane, who ended with a 73.

Robert Coles, of England, and Northern Ireland's Darren Clarke shared sixth with Gary Lockerbie in eighth.