Daly's win gives Price a ticket to the Belfry

There was nothing wild about John Daly's first victory for six years at the BMW International. If it took slightly bizarre thinking for the sponsors to bring the player known as the "Wild Thing" to an event where the European team is finalised with the addition of two wild cards, not to mention bringing a recovering alcoholic to such a beer-fuelled city as this, it proved an inspired decision.

Daly, the Open champion at St Andrews in 1995 but winless since, was made to work hard for his victory by Padraig Harrington, who was only behind as the final-round duellists walked off the 18th green at Nord Eichenreid. "It has been a long six years and it feels great to win again," Daly said.

A win that meant so much to the 35-year-old American left the Irishman sicken at his sixth runner-up finish of the year, and the 15th of his career. "It is great to see John back in the winner's enclosure but it would be even better if I wasn't second," Harrington said. "I don't seem to be able to stumble into a win whatever I do. It does not do the confidence any good to know you can play so well and still not win." Having separated themselves from the field, Daly and Harrington also ensured Phillip Price will make his Ryder Cup debut at The Belfry later this month. Price had missed the cut but remained in tenth place on the qualifying table as Thomas Levet, one of 10 players who could have passed the Welshman by winning, finished third, seven shots behind Daly.

A well-conditioned course, but one with few terrors, produced such low scoring that Daly's 27 under par would have tied the European Tour record, set by Jerry Anderson at the European Masters at Crans in 1984, but for preferred lies being allowed in the third round. Daly closed with a 68 to come from one behind Harrington to finish one ahead.

"Finally, all the hard work I have put in is starting to pay off," Daly said. "This has been my most consistent year and I have been preparing myself to win again. I don't give up on myself or get down on myself like I used to." Daly's career, beset by drink, gambling and marital problems, appeared almost in freefall around 1999, when he considered doing something else. What, though? "That was the problem. I don't have anything else to do. Golf has been my whole life since the age of four." He was proscribed anti-depressants but the medication made him feel "like a rat". Over the last two years he has taken more responsibility for his actions, began practising more and, a month ago, married for the fourth time. Playing aggressive, but more considered golf, the crowd here still warmed to the "Mild Thing". The bottle of bubbly that came with the trophy was swiftly opened, but only for others to enjoy.

"He did everything he is known for when he won his two majors," Harrington said of Daly. "It's not that he hits the ball so long, there are lots of people who do that, but how straight he hits it. He drove the ball superbly and he has a great touch with his putting. He played very confident golf. I knew after the sixth and seventh holes that I was in for a long day." Harrington failed to birdie the par-five sixth and then dropped a shot at the next, while Daly holed from 30 feet to draw level. Each time Harrington went back in front, Daly quickly replied.

They halved the 12th in birdie twos, Harrington holing from 20 feet, Daly from half that distance, and the 16th in birdie threes. Daly drove the green at the short par-four and two-putted, while Harrington pitched to five feet and one-putted.

Harrington went for the flag at the short 17th but missed his nine-footer for a birdie that would have given him some insurance at the par-five last. With the tee moved forward, Harrington knew he needed a good drive but did not get it. Stretching himself for a possible birdie he knew he would need, the Irishman then elected to go with a three-wood from 284 yards and pushed it into a pond right of the green.

He made his par, but Daly chipped exquisitely from just off the putting surface and had only a tap-in for the win. "It was a great way to win with it coming down to the last," Daly said. "Either of us could have won. We both played well and made the putts we needed to make." Of the Ryder Cup contenders, Levet began the day trailing Harrington by six but could never close the gap on the leaders. Dean Robertson and Sergio Garcia both had 67s but needed far more, while Jose Maria Olazabal struggled on the greens over the weekend after his 62 on Friday.

This Ryder Cup has come too quick for the rookie Paul Casey but the Scottish PGA champion's closing 65, alongside Bernhard Langer, was another indication of his potential. "He is a very good player and a fine young man," Langer said. "He will be one of the brightest stars we will have in the future."

BMW INTERNATIONAL OPEN (Munich) Leading final scores (GB or Irl unless stated): 261 J Daly (US) 63 64 68 66. 262 P Harrington 69 63 62 68. 268 T Levet (Fr) 70 66 64 68. 269 D Robertson 64 69 69 67; C Hanell (Swe) 71 65 66 67; R Russell 68 66 66 69. 270 P Casey 69 67 69 65; J Rose 67 69 68 66; S Garcia (Sp) 67 67 69 67. 271 S Kjeldsen (Den) 65 70 71 65; P McGinley 70 66 68 67; D Carter 69 66 68 68. 272 C Montgomerie 69 69 68 66; R Jacquelin (Fr) 68 67 70 67; JM Olazabal (Sp) 70 62 70 70. 273 W Bennett 69 68 69 67; C Pettersson (Swe) 66 69 70 68; B Langer (Ger) 67 69 69 68; P O'Malley (Aus) 71 67 66 69; T Bjorn (Den) 65 67 65 76. 274 A Cejka (Ger) 69 66 69 70; R Gonzalez (Arg) 67 68 69 70. 276 S Lyle 69 71 71 65; M Lundberg (Swe) 72 68 70 66; A Scott (Aus) 67 64 77 68; S Dodd 69 70 69 68; F Andersson (Swe) 69 68 69 70; R Goosen (SA) 68 69 68 71; F Jacobson (Swe) 68 66 68 74. 277 R Claydon 70 70 72 65; G Turner (NZ) 69 70 71 67; P Lawrie 70 70 69 68; S Tinning (Den) 74 66 69 68; A Hansen (Den) 69 69 70 69; J Rystrom (Swe) 67 70 70 70; S Gallacher 67 70 68 72. 278 M Brier (Aut) 72 68 70 68; G Havret (Fra) 68 70 70 70; B Lane 69 69 70 70; J Berendt (Arg) 69 67 71 71; I Woosnam 69 67 71 71; M Mouland 68 68 70 72; R Coles 72 66 68 72; J Senden (Aus) 68 67 70 73; B Rumford (Aus) 68 68 69 73. 279 C Suneson (Sp) 72 68 70 69; D Botes (SA) 70 70 69 70; A Forsyth 68 66 74 71; R Wessels (SA) 66 70 72 71; G Orr 68 69 71 71; M Ilonen (Fin) 71 68 68 72; N Dougherty 71 68 68 72. Selected: 281 N Fasth (Swe) 67 71 71 72. 282 P Fulke (Swe) 69 71 72 70.