John Bickerton found his touch on the Bavarian greens

Worcestershire's John Bickerton was satisfied with his joint-third finish in the BMW International Open.

Bickerton told BBC Hereford and Worcester he had rediscovered his putting form in Munich and this played a key part in his final-round 67.

"I'd had a week where I played probably the best tee to green I've played all year but didn't hole putts," he said.

"But the last two days I holed a few more which certainly makes you feel a bit better."

Bickerton now heads for Paris, where he will look for another good showing in this week's French Open, which he won at Le National back in 2006.

But he has opted not to join the majority of the European Tour regulars at Sunningdale next Monday to play International Final Qualifying for next month's Open Championship.

Instead, Bickerton will try to qualify for Royal Birkdale by doing well on tour over the next three weeks and getting high finishes either at the European Open in Kent or at Loch Lomond the following week.

Bickerton, 38, who enjoyed the third win of his European Tour career at the Alfred Dunhill Championship in South Africa in December, is now up to 30th on Europe's Order of Merit.