R4 LEADERBOARD GB & Ire unless stated -3 K Ferrie -1 C Montgomerie, G Storm level D Clarke, P Hanson (Swe) Selected others: +1 A Coltart, T Immelman (SA) +2 L Westwood, R Goosen (SA) +4 M Campbell (NZ) +6 T Bjorn (Den)

Bjorn began the final round four shots ahead but proceeded to card an 86, putting three drives into the water at the par-four 17th where he took an 11.

Ferrie birdied two of the first three holes and his round of 70 took him to three-under, and his second Tour win.

Colin Montgomerie had four birdies in the first five and shared second with Graeme Storm.

With Ferrie having won a play-off to grab the last Open qualifying spot at Sunningdale, and Montgomerie already exempt, England's Storm bagged the St Andrews berth on offer to the winner.

Afterwards, Ferrie revealed that he thought he had blown his chance when he double-bogeyed the 13th.

That was the worst day in my golfing life Thomas Bjorn

"But I birdied the next and the 18th and everybody was bleeding into the clubhouse," said the Ashington golfer.

"I was a little bit nervous and a little bit pumped up, but I was driving it so well and this course plays into my hands.

"This was the last year of my exemption and I was putting a bit of undue pressure on myself to keep my card.

"It's been quite a week for me. I'd been worrying about my form and keeping my card but now I'll have financial security until 2011 and the chance to push on to the next level.

"Maybe the Ryder Cup can be more than a pipe-dream."

Montgomerie's second-place finish was particularly impressive considering he had been tied 67th at four over at the halfway stage.

Bjorn is the man who let slip a four-shot lead with three holes left to hand the 2003 Open Championship to unsung America Ben Curtis.

The British Masters champion, who also fell back after challenging for the Masters in April, made a faltering start, reaching the turn in 38.

But no-one could have foreseen the magnitude of his collapse which let in Ferrie to win.

"That was the worst day in my golfing life," said Bjorn. "I tried to keep it together but it just didn't work out."

I was a little bit nervous and a little bit pumped up, but I was driving it so well and this course plays into my hands Kenneth Ferrie

Four successive pars and a birdie after the turn suggested Bjorn was holding his nerve, but a crucial putt stayed up at the 15th, and he dropped a shot at the 16th to put himself in a tie at two under with Ferrie and Andrew Coltart.

Ferrie raced an eagle chance four feet past at the 18th but bravely knocked in the return, and could only watch as his rivals finished their rounds.

Raphael Jacquelin landed in the water at each of the final three holes, and finished things off with a double bogey that gave him a 79 and a tie for 19th.

Bjorn's hopes vanished at the 17th, and a last hole bogey saw him finish an astonishing joint 33rd at six over.

Darren Clarke, who had three bogeys and a double-bogey in his first six holes, birdied the last three and finished in a share of fourth at level-par.

David Park recorded a hole-in-one at the par-three eighth but did not win the car positioned on the lake as Simon Wakefield had already been awarded the keys for his ace earlier in the week.