Golf: Thongchai Jaidee wins French Open, Rory McIlroy settles for third

Rory McIlroy had to settle for third place as Thongchai Jaidee romped to a four-shot victory in the 100th French Open at Golf National on Sunday.

Thailand’s Thongchai went into final round with a two-stroke lead and a fantastic three-under-par 68 helped him easily hold off the chasing pack on 11 under par.

The 46-year-old went 39 holes without a bogey on the challenging Albatros course, until he opted for safety on the 72nd hole with the title already all but assured.

A brace of birdies on each nine were enough for the world number 57 to seal his eighth European Tour title, with what was amazingly his first top-10 finish of the season.

The closest anyone got to Thongchai on the back nine was when Andy Sullivan made three consecutive birdies to get to eight under.

But the Englishman’s challenge came to a disappointing end with a bogey on 17 followed by a watery triple bogey at the last.

McIlroy failed to find his best from tee to green, and narrowly missed a succession of birdie putts.

The world number four began the day tied for second place with Jeunghun Wang, but his only birdie came at the par-five 14th as he was forced to settle for an even-par closing effort of 71.

Nevertheless, this was a decent week for the four-time major champion on his return to action after missing the US Open cut at Oakmont, and a solid week on the 2018 Ryder Cup course is good preparation for the upcoming British Open at Royal Troon.

Italian Francesco Molinari ended up in second place after shooting a five-under-par 66, the joint-best round of the week.

The two-time Ryder Cup winner rolled in seven birdies to give his hopes of making Darren Clarke’s European team for the matches at Hazeltine in September a massive boost.

This tournament just outside Paris offered double points for the Ryder Cup hopefuls, as well as counting as two events on the Race to Dubai.

German Martin Kaymer, the 2009 winner, briefly threatened around the turn, but a flurry of dropped shots on the inward half saw the former world number one finish on four under par.

Spaniard Rafa Cabrera Bello finished in fourth place thanks to a closing round of 67, while defending champion Bernd Wiesberger of Austria faded out of contention.

The French Open offered four spots for the British Open to the highest players in the top 12 yet to qualify.

South African Brandon Stone, who was one of five joint-leaders after the second round, Swede Alex Noren, England’s Callum Shinkwin and Stone’s compatriot Richard Sterne took those places.