Golf: Home victory puts Alvaro Quiros on par with Spain greats

At 35th in the world, Quiros was the highest-ranked player in the field at the Real Club in Seville, and Europe's biggest hitter grabbed his fourth Tour title with a par on the first hole of a play-off with English rookie James Morrison.

In his first start since winning in Madeira three weeks ago, 25-year-old Morrison threatened to make it back-to-back victories in only the sixth and seventh Tour events of his career. But after firing a five-under-par 67 to force sudden death the former England youth cricketer – he shared a room with Alastair Cook – pulled his approach into the lake when the pair returned to the 432-yard 18th.

Morrison double-bogeyed to hand the title and winner's cheque of almost 287,000 to Quiros on a plate after they had tied on 11-under par. The victory lifts the Malaga golfer from 17th to seventh in the Ryder Cup points standings and that will delight captain Colin Montgomerie, who has been singing his praises for months.

As they fought out their play-off, though, long-time leader Mark Foster was left cursing the three-foot putts he missed on the 16th and 18th green to lose by one. His only European Tour victory came seven years and more than 200 events ago, but by three-putting first for par and then for bogey at the last he managed only a closing 74 after bringing a three-stroke advantage into the day. In stark contrast, Quiros was all smiles.

"I think it's one of the most important things in my life for sure," he said. "To be the winner of your Open is something really, really great – with the Ryder Cup and the World Cup it's the best three things in golf for me."

After going in the water on the long ninth and turning two behind, Quiros joked he was trying his best to throw the tournament away.

"Mark Foster was playing really well and I knew I had to make birdies," he added. But Foster bogeyed the short 11th and his birdie on the fourth was the only one he managed all day.

Morrison earned a place on the circuit with only 5,000 to spare by finishing 18th on last season's Challenge Tour, but already in 2010 he has come first, second, fourth and sixth.

With his 191,239 runners-up prize he has already earned almost 350,000 and has no reason to regret choosing golf over cricket.

Foster had to be content with a share of third with France's Raphael Jacquelin and Spaniard Alejandro Canizares. Montgomerie managed only 52nd spot and his search for a first top-ten finish since June 2008 now goes on at this week's Italian Open. Paul Lawrie staged a strong finish, closing with a five-under-par 67, to tie for sixth, Bathgate's Stephen Gallacher (72) tied for 34th, three spots ahead of Richie Ramsay (73), Gary Orr (73) and David Drysdale.

Steven O'Hara (72) was 46th, with Peter Whiteford (77) and Marc Warren (75) finishing outside of the top 50.