Denmark's Steen Tinning claimed his first European Tour title in the inaugural Wales Open to end a 14-year barren spell.

Tinning fired a final-round 69 for a 15-under total of 283 and a one-shot win over Swindon's David Howell to pocket the £125,000 first prize, five times his previous biggest cheque.

Howell missed from just three feet on the 17th to blow his chance of a second Tour win - an error that cost him more than £40,000 - and even a birdie on the last left Tinning needing just a par five to seal the victory.

The 37-year-old duly delivered to win at the 292nd attempt while home favourite Ian Woosnam had to settle for a tie for third with Swede Fredrik Jacobson.

"The only thing that can better this is the birth of my two children," Tinning said. "I couldn't enjoy it until the very last putt and I was still shaking so much that if it had been half a foot longer I would have missed it."

Tinning had never previously finished higher than fourth but had missed only four cuts since August last year after recovering from a broken thumb caused when an amateur hit him with a ball on a company day in Denmark.

The Dane also revealed that he had been lucky to escape with his life after a car crash in Germany in 1990 when two people died in a nine-car pile-up.

"I separated the bones completely in my right arm and they had to reset them and I was out for 18 months. My girlfriend - who is now my wife - was also lucky not to be paralysed after injuring her spine."

Tinning began the day one shot off the lead held by Ian Woosnam and trailed Howell by two shots midway through the back nine. But a superb approach to within a foot of the hole on the 14th and another birdie on the 16th gave him a one-shot cushion playing the last.

Howell was stunned by his mistake on the 17th but was delighted to have rediscovered his form after a poor end to last season.

"I couldn't believe the three footer I missed on the 17th, I'd just made two great putts in-a-row on the 15th and 16th," said Howell, who closed with a 68.

"I didn't have a look at a scoreboard until the 14th and I thought I'd better have a look and I was two ahead but I didn't play great the last four holes. I did well to make a birdie on the last.

"I've come up one short which is a shame but I'm delighted that I played great this week. I made a triple bogey and a double and just lost by one. It's easily the best I've played since Dubai when I won. Overall it's been a good week".

Woosnam was hugely disappointed not to complete a hat-trick of tour titles on home soil spanning three decades, especially with the home crowds urging him on.

"Things just didn't click today and I felt the pressure a little bit," said Woosnam after a closing 73 that leaves him still chasing a first victory since 1997. I felt like I was playing in the desert at times I was in so many bunkers".

Another home favourite enjoyed a better day, Phil Price closing with a 65.

Of the Irish contingent only Philip Walton and Paul McGinley made the cut but were unable to make their mark and finished well down the field.