DUBLIN, Ireland, July 4 (UPI) -- U.S. Open champion Retief Goosen of South Africa won the Smurfit European Open Sunday.
Goosen, 35, finished five shots ahead of Lee Westwood of Britain and Australians Richard Green and Peter O'Malley.
As a result, Goosen goes back to the top of the European Order of Merit he won in 2001 and 2002 before handing it to compatriot Ernie Els last season. Els drops to second.
Goosen has decided to pull out of this week's Scottish Open.
"It's been a bit of a manic time, I'm a bit tired, I don't think I'm quite ready to play," Goosen said.
Westwood, gunning for a third European Open victory, had a chance to finish second on his own, but missed a nine-foot birdie putt on the last.
That missed putt by Westwood put O'Malley into the British Open championship as the leading non-exempt player in the tournament.
