WORCESTERSHIRE'S John Bickerton picked up a handsome cheque for £13,770 for finishing joint 12th in yesterday's Madrid Open.

The Droitwich professional completed his fourth successive under par round to close on -14, just six shots behind South African winner Retief Goosen.

Bickerton closed with his best round of the tournament, a 66, to follow rounds of 69, 67 and 68.

Hereford's David Park won £2,390 for finishing joint 57th. He finished the tournament on four under par after closing with a 69.

Winner Goosen was celebrating today after becoming the first non-European to win Europe's Order of Merit since Greg Norman in 1982.

It was a triple celebration too. The 32-year-old clinched the title by winning the Madrid Open and with it moved into the world's top 10 for the first time in his career.

"I started the year 38th and my goal was maybe top 20," he said. "It's hard to believe how far I've come with so many good players around.

"And to win my first major and now be number one in Europe is unbelievable.

"It's been a dream year and it's still got to sink in a bit.

"This is my 10th season in Europe and it's hard to think I've been the best player this year. The competition is really tough."

Yet Goosen has done it with two tournaments to spare, the crown being his once Darren Clarke finished only joint sixth at Club de Campo.

The victory was mere icing on the cake, but it was a victory that did not look like coming when he bogeyed the last when one ahead and Warwickshire's Steve Webster then pitched to five feet on the first hole of sudden death.

Chasing his first tour title, however, Webster missed and two holes later Goosen made him pay by holing from twice as far.

Clarke, second on the Order of Merit to Colin Montgomerie in 1998 and to Lee Westwood last year, said: "Retief has played consistently well all year.

"He won one of the most difficult majors to win and played superbly at Loch Lomond to win there as well.

"Hopefully my time will come."