Near perfect Mouland rolls back the years

Mark Mouland of Wales rolled back the years with a vintage performance to win the Mauritius Open at Belle Mare Plage yesterday after a week in which he shot just one bogey.

The 41-year-old, who lost his European Tour card at the end of last season, took a four-stroke lead into the final round of the 54-hole tournament and comfortably maintained his advantage with near-faultless golf.

After 14 years without a win - his last Tour victory came in the Dutch Open in 1988 -Mouland said he hoped the win would prompt a revival in his fortunes.

"I've been a long time without a win and when you look at the quality of the field, this has to rank as a good victory," he said. "The likes of Phil Price, Ronan Rafferty and Barry Lane are tough guys to beat but there were also plenty of future stars like Nick Dougherty, John Morgan and Jamie Donaldson."

Mouland dropped only one shot all week and was heartened by the reliability and consistency he displayed.

"I felt really relaxed and my swing was as good as it has been in recent years," he added. "This victory has really been a confidence booster and hopefully it will earn me some extra invites for the year ahead."

Mouland finished on 203, 13 under par, carding four birdies on the final day. That gave him a four-stroke winning margin at the close over the Frenchman Martin Le Mesurier, who came charging through the field with a closing 65.

Dougherty's final 72 earned the European Tour's rookie of the year third place on five under par, one stroke ahead of the Ryder Cup player Price and the defending champion Sébastian Delagrange.

Meanwhile, Tiger Woods has had arthroscopic knee surgery and is unlikely to play on the PGA Tour until February.

Fluid and benign cysts were removed from the American's left knee during a one-hour operation and Woods will begin rehabilitation in about a week. As he may need two months to recover completely, he will miss the season-opening Mercedes Championship, which begins on January 9 in Hawaii, and might return for the Buick Invitational in mid-February.

Phil Mickelson will not be unduly concerned if Woods chooses to miss the World Cup again next year - not, that is, if David Toms is his replacement once more. The United States pair went into the closing foursomes in Mexico only three strokes behind the leaders Japan after a dazzling record-equalling third-round 57, to which Mickelson contributed an eagle and 10 birdies.

"Tiger and I get along great and obviously he's the best player in the world," said Mickelson. "But sometimes when we've played together in tournaments we haven't played our best."