EUROPEAN

• Havret wins Johnnie Walker with clutch par save

  
  

  Perthshire, Scotland (Sports Network) - France's Gregory Havret holed a clutch eight-foot par save on the 18th green Sunday to shoot a three-under 70 and win the Johnnie Walker Championship at Gleneagles.

  Havret's closing five at the 533-yard 18th hole gave him a one-shot victory over England's Graeme Storm at 14-under 278. It was his third career European Tour win, tying him with Jean-Francois Remesy for second place among the winningest French players in tour history -- one behind Thomas Levet.

  Storm, seeking his second career win, made six birdies on the back nine and fired a five-under 68 to reach 13-under 279 for the championship. He birdied the 18th hole to take the clubhouse lead -- but only momentarily.

  Playing several groups behind, Havret followed moments later with a birdie at the 16th to regain a one-shot advantage he wouldn't relinquish. He sealed the victory with an up-and-down par save from a bunker beside the 18th green, celebrating with a right-fist pump and a customary champagne shower from the other French players.

  "It was tough to make birdies and avoid the mistakes," Havret said, "and I'm quite proud of my day." Peter Hanson shot a four-under 69 and David Howell had a two-under 71 to share third place at 11-under 281. Justin Rose (71) and Marcel Siem (72) finished a stroke further back at 10-under 282.

  Rose protected his spot on the European Ryder Cup team, as did Oliver Wilson and Soren Hansen, who both tied for 10th place.

  They joined Padraig Harrington, Sergio Garcia, Lee Westwood, Robert Karlsson, Henrik Stenson, Miguel Angel Jimenez and Graeme McDowell among the players who earned automatic berths for the biennial matches set to take place beginning Sept. 19 at Valhalla Golf Club in Louisville, Kentucky.

  Nick Faldo was scheduled to select his two captain's picks shortly after the tournament finished.

  Havret, meanwhile, battled wet conditions and a increasingly bunched-up leaderboard to protect the lead he held since the opening round on Thursday.

  He made two early bogeys on the front nine Sunday, but they were balanced by an birdie on No. 2 and a 15-foot eagle putt at No. 9 that gave him a one-shot lead over three players.

  Storm emerged as the challenger with staying power, making four straight birdies ending at the 11th hole. He was one shot ahead of Havret after making the second of back-to-back birdies at the 16th, but was done in by a bogey at the 17th when he pushed a four-foot par putt right of the hole.

  A short birdie putt at the 18th hole gave Storm a chance, but Havret was too clutch -- even after hitting his final drive into the tall grass. Forced to knock his second shot back onto the fairway, Havret flew the 18th green with his approach and ended up OK in a side bunker.

  His so-so sand shot was followed by the winning putt, and Havret had his first title since the 2007 Scottish Open.

  "It was a tough day," said Havret, who said he thought he'd missed the par putt on 18: "I think I slightly pushed it ... but it was a very good day."

  08/31 12:59:57 ET