Golf:Thomas Levet turned his season around in dramatic fashion today when he won his home French Open by a stroke.

The former Ryder Cup player's one-under-par 70 for a seven-under 277 total was just enough to edge out runners-up Mark Foster of England and rookie Dane Thorbjorn Olesen.

Levet looked as though another attempt at taking his country's title had gone by when he made early bogeys.

However, the 42-year-old 2004 Ryder Cup winner, urged on by a huge and enthusiastic gallery and holing some outrageous putts, overtook early front-runner Foster and held his cool to pick up his sixth European Tour title.

His playing-partner Olesen looked odds-on to join him in a playoff with the pair locked together on the last hole.

The young Dane, though, missed a two-foot putt on the final green to bogey. His consolation was to earn a British Open spot as best-placed finisher of players not already exempt.

Levet had already qualified and Olesen's better world ranking gave him the Royal St George's slot over Foster.

Peter Lawrie finished best of the Irish after a final round 70 left the Dubliner on two-over.

Gareth Maybin went backwards with his 77 to finish five-over, seven better than Paul McGinley (79) and 11 ahead of Michael Hoey (80).