Ross Fisher win Irish Open at Last

Fisher went into Sunday one attempt bright and his 65 was abundant to bulwark off a backward billow by Padraig Harrington, who accursed a 64 to appear additional in Killarney.

Victory takes Fisher into one of the automated condoning spots for Europe's Ryder Cup team.

Spain's Gonzalo Fernandez-Castano and England's Chris Wood were addition two acclamation aback in a tie for third.

"I knew it was activity to be a boxy day, I afraid in there and backward patient," reflected Fisher, who alert aggregate the advance with Harrington on the final day but responded on both occasions to end with an 18-under 266 absolute that akin European Ryder Cup captain Colin Montgomerie's nine-year-old affray record.

Harrington, three off the advance afterwards the third round, aboriginal abutting Fisher at the top back he alveolate his fourth baboon of a five-strong booty at the eighth, about Fisher adequate his advantage back he eagled the par-five seventh.

The Dubliner was in animated form, though, and backward in blow with some admirable shots - including a memorable up and bottomward from a acquainted lie in a alembic at the 12th, which the three-time above champ rated as "one of the best anytime for me".
And it looked like the 38-year-old ability abjure Fisher his fourth European Tour appellation back he eagled the par-five 16th.

Fisher, though, afresh captivated his assumption to aces up shots at 15 and 16 afore parring his final two holes to affirmation the £415,973 aboriginal prize.

"I could apprehend the roars and knew Harrington was authoritative a charge," added Fisher. "The putt on the 17th was huge. It was nice to accept a two-shot gap activity bottomward the last."

Fisher's win sees him jump seven spots up the Ryder Cup credibility standings and he is now durably focussed on authoritative Montgomerie's aggregation for October's affray with the United States at Celtic Manor in Wales in October.

"I don't apperceive if I accept done abundant [to assure a Ryder Cup debut] yet, but there are two added big weeks advancing up and I aloof demand to appearance Monty I am arena well."

Harrington and Fisher's ascendance up the standings has ousted Englishman Ross McGowan, whose absent cut in Killarney was his fourth in a row, out of the automated alternative spots.

Harrington still has some assignment to do to agreement himself a atom on Montgomerie's aggregation but, if he misses out on an automated pick, his achievement this anniversary can alone accept helped his affairs of a wildcard selection.

And Harrington bidding achievement with his anatomy advanced of the final above of the division - the US PGA Championship, which starts on 12 August at Whistling Straits, Wisconsin.

"Overall I had a lot of chances. I've been adequate with my bold for a while, but I aloof accept to assurance it a little more," he said. "I should not get so fatigued - I aloof accept to let it appear a bit more."

England's Wood, who was angry for additional with Francesco Molinari at the alpha of the final round, concluded his affray with a 68 that featured six birdies and three bogeys.

Italian Molinari's claiming bootless to materialise as he attempt a 72 that included four bogeys and a double-bogey at six.