Alex Cejka, the overnight leader, double-bogeyied the first hole of the last round of the Trophee Lancome yesterday and thereafter no one was able to apply any pressure on South African Retief Goosen, who won his fourth European tour event and his third in France.

Goosen, after a run of four birdies in five holes from the fourth, was never less than two ahead and was eventually able to three-putt the final green and still win by one, from Michael Campbell and Darren Clarke. The Ulsterman was never really in contention but his finish was good enough to stretch his lead at the top of the Order of Merit.

Lee Westwood, with a run of four successive birdies from the 14th, suddenly found himself in with a chance at 11-under, three behind Goosen. He knew that if he could birdie the last it would at least put some pressure on the South African.

But the pin at the short 18th - 209 yards - is, on Sundays, set with malice aforethought. There is a pond on the right of the green, so the hole is always cut as close as possible to the water, on the very limit of fairness. In order, therefore, to have a good chance of a two it is necessary to risk the water, which Westwood duly did. And he duly went in. It was a brave shot, a calculated risk that did not come off.

As the ball splashed down, so his hopes not just of the title but of overtaking Clarke in the Order of Merit, dissolved. He took a double-bogey five, turning a 66 into a 68.

There was some good scoring from some predictable names. Thomas Bjorn, who after opening with a 66 seemed to hit the wall, taking 75 and 73 in the next two rounds, came back with five birdies and an eagle in his 64 and Ian Woosnam looked a little more like his old self. After starting with a bogey, he produced seven birdies for a round of 65 that sent him soaring up the leader-board.

Best of the lot was Phillip Price, the Welshman who, at the age of 33, has found the kind of confidence his talent has long deserved. His round of 63 contained six birdies and an eagle and took him from joint 26th at the start of the day to sixth at the end.

Nick Faldo had a good round too, a 66 with just one bogey and he felt encouraged by it. "It would be nice to play 72 holes like that," he said. Surprisingly Colin Montgomerie did not join the scoring spree. He has looked uncomfortable with his game all week and there were only three players yesterday who took more than his 74.

He is going to have to assess the reasons for his current spell of poor form, whether it be the adoption of a new ball which goes further than his previous make, or even his new much lighter shape which, while it undoubtedly looks better, may not be doing him any favours on the golf course.