McGowan of England sews up his first title by three at Madrid Masters

MADRID, Spain (PA) -- England's Ross McGowan lies second in the European Tour's 2010 Ryder Cup race after capturing his first European Tour title by three shots at the Madrid Masters on Sunday.

Seven clear after his magical third-round 60 at Centro Nacional, the 27-year-old from Surrey saw that advantage cut to only two by Finn Mikko Ilonen with four to play. But a 10-foot birdie putt at the 15th eased his worries about blowing the biggest lead of the season.

Even then McGowan was lucky on the par-5 last when he pulled his second shot and it finished on wooden sleepers just above the lake. He was able to save par and, with a 1-under-par 71 collected the victory with a 25-under-par total of 263.

"I came here this week in form and it's lovely to come away with the trophy," he said. "Once I saw where some of the pins were, it was a lot trickier and my game plan was to hit as many greens as I could.

"It means a lot to win," he added. "That's another goal out of the way and hopefully from here I can progress and move on to bigger things."

Ilonen, the former British Amateur champion, finished runner-up. And after starting the week down in 159th place, that moved him well inside the top 115 who keep their cards for next season.

After finding himself 12 adrift following an opening 74, Ilonen had rounds of 63, 63 and 66.

Scotland's David Drysdale, tied for the halfway lead with Sergio Garcia, closed with a 67 for third place, while pre-tournament favorite Garcia was only 17th.

McGowan, the English Amateur champion three years ago, began his 2010 Ryder Cup campaign with a third-place finish in Switzerland last month, and in his next start was sixth at the Alfred Dunhill Links last Monday.

He will remember his Saturday 60 for as long as he plays, although it does not count as a Tour record-equalling round because placing was allowed on the wet fairways all week.

At 24 under with a round to go, he was one better than the all-time Tour record after 54 holes and Ernie Els' record final total of 29 under looked on.

But the day was all about securing his maiden victory, really and, in a shaky start, bogeys at the first and fourth gave the chasing pack hope.

A seven-foot putt on the long fifth appeared vital and by adding further birdies at the sixth and ninth, the gap was back up to six. Still, it was not easy. He three-putted the 11th while Ilonen birdied the 10th, 12th and 15th.

In February, McGowan had lost the Johnnie Walker Classic in Australia from two ahead with six to play, but he kept his nerve this time.

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