EUROPEAN TOUR INTERNATIONAL: NICK DOUGHERTY, who this time last year had little desire to play golf, finally returned to winning ways in Munich yesterday, and in the process earned a place in next month's British Open.

But what a scare the 27-year-old from Liverpool, so devastated by the sudden death of his mother straight after his US Masters debut 14 months ago, was given before he made the BMW International Open his third European Tour victory.

Four clear and seemingly coasting, the gap was suddenly cut to one when Argentina’s Rafa Echenique holed a 243-yard three-iron on the last for only the fourth albatross of the Tour season.

Having also eagled the 11th, Echenique equalled the Tour record with his back nine 27 – he actually played the last 10 holes in an amazing 10 under – but Dougherty kept his composure.

Three closing pars gave him a superb 64 for a 22-under-par total and, after raising a hand to the skies, he said: “The strength that my Mum had lives on in me.

“I want to say thank you to all the people who have helped me through some tough times. I have a great team around me and it’s great to be back where I feel I belong.”

The win earned him €333,330 and he qualifies for Turnberry off a mini-Order of Merit which has been running since the Italian Open at the start of last month.

On the moment when he saw what Echenique had done, Dougherty added: “I thought, ‘Oh my goodness’. The 18th has been an absolute brute for me this week and I’m delighted to get the job done.”

Long-time leader Retief Goosen finished third, but 51-year-old Bernhard Langer, hoping to become the oldest winner in Tour history in front of his home fans and only one behind after an opening birdie, fell back to ninth.

Of the Irish, Rory McIlroy briefly got himself on to the fringes of contention with a run from the fifth that saw him go seven under for the next seven holes.

In the end, a respectable, five-under-par 67 was in fact only enough to maintain his overnight position of 15th. He finished on 14 under to collect €29,400.

Peter Lawrie was two shots farther back after a 69. He earned €24,400.

Gareth Maybin and Gary Murphy were down the field after 72s, but Michael Hoey managed to have seven bogeys and two doubles in his closing 80.

Dougherty, three behind at the start of the round, kicked off with three straight birdies to draw level with Goosen, and after five holes was two in front.

Goosen did come back to sneak in front with a fine eagle on the long ninth, but Dougherty was back on terms with a birdie there and was never caught from the moment he began the back nine with a birdie to the double-US Open champion’s bogey.

Further birdies came at the 13th and 14th, and from over the back of the next green he made a 20-footer for another, which proved the decisive blow in the end.

Ryder Cup captain Colin Montgomerie completed a full year without a single top-10 finish with a 76 that dropped him to joint 66th of the 71 players.

This coming week, however, he returns to the French Open where he was runner-up to Spanish qualifier Pablo Larrazabal last year.

At least he left Germany with one good memory. His third round included an ace on the short eighth, thereby extending his Tour record number of holes-in-one to nine.

Two British Open spots were up for grabs and the other was taken by Swede Johan Edfors.

European Open champion Christian Cevaer, who began the week in second place in the table, missed the cut and was pushed out by Dougherty.

There are also places available at the French and Scottish Opens.