FINAL LEADERBOARD (GB&I unless stated) -17 D Howell -12 S Kahn -11 MA Jimenez -9 B Rumford (Aus) -8 R Bland -7 A Coltart, T Immelman (SA), G Orr, A Wall, P Harrington Selected others: -6 P Casey -4 E Els (SA) -3 L Donald Level N Dougherty +3 C Montgomerie

The Englishman, 30, who led from round two, shot a final 69 to reach 17 under for his fourth European Tour win.

Essex's Simon Khan was second, Spain's Miguel Angel Jimenez was third on 11 under and Australian Brett Rumford (65) climbed to fourth on nine under.

Padraig Harrington was seven under, Paul Casey ended six under and Nick Dougherty (78) plummeted to level par.

Highlights: Howell takes PGA title

Interview: David Howell

Interview: Simon Kahn

Howell, who started the final day with a three-shot lead over Jimenez, picked up three shots in the first five holes to stretch his lead to seven before dropping only his fourth stroke of the week on the 10th.

I'm honoured and humbled to put my name on that trophy David Howell

Six straight pars to finish saw the European Order of Merit leader become the first English winner of the PGA Championship since Nick Faldo in 1989.

"This is our flagship event. It doesn't get any bigger than this in Europe," said Howell, who pulled out of last week's Irish Open with a long-standing back injury.

"I'm honoured and humbled to have joined the fantastic list of past winners.

"It didn't feel easy. I'm delighted how I played, especially on the front nine. I don't think I relaxed until I came off the 17th green."

Howell's win lifts him from 17th to 10th in the world rankings and puts him top of the Ryder Cup points race, guaranteeing a second appearance at the K Club in September.

The Swindon star, who turned pro in 1995, won his first event in 1999 and last triumphed at the HSBC Champions tournament in Shanghai last November when he held off Tiger Woods over the closing holes.

"This beats my win over Tiger by a million miles," said Howell, who has now won more than �6m in his European career.

Khan began the day three shots adrift of Jimenez

"When I turned pro I just wanted to make a living. Even a couple of years ago I was striving to get into the top 50 and didn't know if I ever would.

"I remember being delighted when I made the cut at the Tour School and knew I would be playing the Challenge Tour.

"I thought that was a fantastic achievement, but obviously things have gone slightly better."

The 33-year-old Khan, who moved from 159th to 15th on the Order of Merit entering the week, birdied the last two holes for a 68 to snatch second place from Jimenez, who carded 72.

Khan, whose only victory came in the 2004 Wales Open, was fined �8,000 for slow play in the Irish Open last year.

FIVE LIVE VIEW Congratulations to Howell - he thoroughly deserved this great win NT Five Live: Have your say

"I'm delighted. It was a little bit of a shame I didn't make more birdies on the front nine," said Khan.

"I was just trying to look forward, not back, and the first time I looked at the leaderboard was on the 16th but by then Howeller was gone and I was a bit deflated."

Another Englishman, Richard Bland, finished fifth after a closing 68 left him one ahead of five players at seven under - Harrington, Trevor Immelman, Anthony Wall, Gary Orr and Andrew Coltart.

England's Casey, tied third overnight, fell back with a 74, while Frenchman Jean van de Velde, fifth after his third-round 66, dropped back to one over after a 79.

Wentworth local Ernie Els, who resculpted the West Course, ended on four under after a 72, while eight-time European number one Colin Montgomerie also carded 72 for three over.