Darren Clarke wins Asian Open

Shangai -- Darren Clarke sank a 40-foot birdie putt on the last hole Sunday to capture the Asian Open by one stroke over Robert Jan Derksen in Shanghai.

The birdie, which finished a near-disastrous 1-over-par 73, left the Northern Ireland native with an 8-under 72-hole total of 280.

The 18th-hole heroics came after he made three late bogeys that erased a two-shot lead.

Clarke finished at 8-under 280 for his first European Tour tournament victory in nearly five years.

"This one is very special," Clarke said. "It's nice to get back up to where I feel my golf should be. It's nice to win again and it's a really, really good feeling."

His game suffered after his wife, Heather, died in 2006 following a lengthy and well-publicized bout with breast cancer that forced Clarke to frequently withdraw from tournaments to be with his two sons.

Dirksen (73), who was tied with Clarke, also needed a birdie at No. 18 but made par to finish second at 7-under 281.

Copyright 2008 by United Press International.