Easy Ryder? Darren Clarke wins KLM Open by four

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eter Hartman, CEO and President of KLM, presents the winner's trophy to Darren Clarke.
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Aug. 24, 2008

ZANDVOORT, Netherlands (AP) -- Darren Clarke claimed his second victory of the season Sunday, shooting a 4-under 66 to win the KLM Open by four strokes.

Clarke, who is chasing a wild card spot in Nick Faldo's European Ryder Cup team, finished with a 16-under total of 264. Paul McGinley shot a 6-under 64 to finish second at 12 under.

Clarke, who also won the Asian Open in April for his first title in five years, now heads into the next week's Johnnie Walker Championship in Scotland with a solid chance to earn one of Faldo's two wild cards.

"I had two weeks to try to impress Nick," Clarke said. "The first is out of the way and I seem to have done that."

Clarke bogeyed the par-5 second hole but then made three birdies on the next four to open up a lead against Henrik Stenson. The Swede had birdied the opening three holes, but dropped three shots between the seventh and ninth. Stenson finished in third place, another shot back.

Lee Slattery (65) and Marc Warren (68) tied for fourth place at 9 under.

McGinley resigned as Faldo's assistant captain in the hopes of qualifying as a player, but looks likely to need a top performance at Gleneagles to earn a spot.

"There are only two picks, so it's a tight situation, but I'm going to have to win (in Scotland) to give myself a chance," McGinley said. "As everybody knows, it's about winning. I have no complaints -- I have not played well enough, but there's one more event and I'll certainly be giving it 101 percent."

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