GOLF: India's Arjun Atwal held off European number one Retief Goosen and an imminent thunderstorm to claim his second European tour title in the Carlsberg Malaysian Open.

Atwal carded a final-round 66 for a 24-under-par total of 260 at the Mines Resort in Kuala Lumpur, four shots ahead of Goosen and little-known Australian Brad Kennedy.

The 29-year-old, who became the first Indian golfer to win on tour when he took the Singapore Masters title 12 months ago, finished in style by chipping in on the last to pick up the winner's cheque for £113,834.

Scotland's Dean Robertson also chipped in on the 18th to claim fourth in a welcome return to form since missing almost all of last season with clinical depression.

Ireland's Padraig Harrington was unable to mount a last-day charge and closed with a 73 for a 12-under total on his return to action after a nine-week break, one shot ahead of Ryder Cup team-mate Paul McGinley.

Just 20 minutes after the last putt dropped, the heavens opened as the predicted thunderstorm burst over the clubhouse - but even the torrential downpour could not dampen Atwal's spirits.

"This makes me believe in myself more," he said, struggling to make himself heard as the thunder crashed overhead.

"Last year's win was great, but then I didn't play so well and started to doubt myself.

"This tells me I am good enough to play on the European Tour or any tour I choose."

Thunderstorms on Friday and Saturday afternoon meant the third round had to be carried over into yesterday, and it was always touch and go whether the final round would be completed on time.

"We felt a few drops of rain on the 18th tee, and I told my caddie to rush things - then I pulled my drive on the ninth fairway," added Atwal.

"It took a while to get my yardage from there, but when I hit the second shot onto the fringe of the green I knew I had it won.

"One of the officials then came over and told us we'd better hurry up, and Retief's caddy had already taken the flag out - so I thought let's try and chip it in."

Robertson's chip in was considerably more difficult but equally welcome after a difficult three years for the popular Scot.

Ironically it was playing in the World Cup here at the Mines Resort in 1999 that could have sparked Robertson's problems, because he fell ill on returning home after representing Scotland alongside Colin Montgomerie.

He was unable to eat or sleep properly for three months, and his weight tumbled to under 10st. Although he returned to the tour, by July 2001 he began to recognise he was unwell.

In January 2002 he travelled to play a tournament in Australia but realised he could not compete and flew straight back home, not returning until seven months later in Switzerland.

Robertson, playing on a medical exemption this season, said: "I played better the first two days - but the last two days I really took my chances well.

"I was determined to stay patient and not get agitated and dig in there and try and get a good finish.

"I felt my game was all over the place on the back nine. But someone was smiling on me.

The 32-year-old said: "I'm absolutely thrilled.

"Some people say this place owes me something, but it doesn't owe me anything. I was happy to come back and I've been well rewarded for coming back.

"I've made the cut in five of my six events in 2003 and had a top 10 in Singapore and a fourth place here, which was not what I was expecting. It's a huge chunk out of what I need to keep my card, and I hope I can relax now into the rest of the season."

TOP SCORERS

(British unless stated; Irish in bold; par 71):

260 - A Atwal (Ind) 62 65 67 66 (£113,834).

264 - B Kennedy (Aus) 68 66 66 64, RGoosen (Rsa) 66 64 66 68 (£59,323 each).

266 - D Robertson 66 70 64 66 (£34,151).

267 - T Srirot (Tha) 63 69 70 65 (£28,960).

268 - D Chopra (Swe) 65 68 66 69 (£23,906).

269 - T Oh (Kor) 64 67 70 68.

270 - P Sjoland (Swe) 68 66 70 66.

271 - S Khan 69 67 67 68, S Dyson 65 70 68 68, G Rosales (Phi) 72 68 66 65, W Yeh (Tai) 65 69 72 65, W-C Liang (Chn) 68 66 66 71.

272 - B Ruangkit (Tha) 69 70 69 64, P Harrington 66 66 67 73, C Plaphol (Tha) 70 71 64 67.

273 - M Maritz (Rsa) 70 69 69 65, A Marshall 71 66 66 70, P McGinley 67 69 70 67, Emanuele Canonica (Ita) 67 66 68 72.

274 - T Price (Aus) 70 70 68 66, T Jaidee (Tha) 68 68 70 68, M Gronberg (Swe) 72 64 71 67, A Singh (Ind) 67 69 70 68, F Andersson (Swe) 62 69 71 72.

275 - J A Larsen (Nor) 73 65 69 68, W-S Kang (Kor) 66 72 70 67, G Rusnak (USA) 66 69 70 70.

276 - M Cunning (USA) 70 69 70 67, Z Moe (Myanmar) 70 69 67 70, P D Olmo (Mex) 70 67 74 65, Cl Schwartzel (Rsa) 71 69 67 69.

277 - S Kjeldsen (Den) 70 68 71 68, M-C Sung (Taiwan) 69 70 70 68, T Wiratchant (Tha) 68 69 73 67, P Marksaeng (Tha) 66 66 67 73, A Forsyth 71 70 68 68, K Felton (Aus) 74 67 68 68, D Gleeson (Aus) 73 68 71 65.

278 - S Yates 66 73 68 71, K H Han (Myanmar) 70 68 71 69, M Fraser (Aus) 67 71 70 70, M Mamat (Sin) 69 70 68 71, C Williams (Rsa) 68 69 70 71, S Scahill (Nzl) 68 68 71 71, A Kang (Kor) 67 68 73 70, J-F Lucquin (Fra) 70 70 69 69.

279 - H Kahlon (Ind) 66 75 72 66, E Lee (Nzl) 73 68 69 69.

280 - I Woosnam 70 68 74 68, C Wi (Kor) 72 67 71 70, A Pitts (USA) 68 72 70 70, R Gibson (Can) 69 68 70 73, J Chung (Kor) 67 69 73 71, D Terblanche (Rsa) 72 69 71 68, B Davis 73 68 70 69.

281 - J Knutzon (USA) 70 68 67 76, P Nyman (Swe) 73 67 70 71, Rl Ponce (Ecu) 75 66 72 68.

Arjun Atwal with the winning trophy