• Australian Masters, Round Four

Victorious Poulter ends season on a high

Ian Poulter claimed the gold jacket in Melbourne © Getty Images

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Ian Poulter carded a final round of 67 to win the Australian Masters by three shots on Sunday.

The Englishman entered the final round two shots behind home favourite Geoff Ogilvy, but after the Australian could only manage a round of 73 at Victoria Golf Club Poulter was able to cruise to a comfortable triumph over Marcus Fraser - who leapt into second thanks to a closing 64.

Poulter ended on 15-under, becoming the second Englishman - after the 2006 triumph of good friend Justin Rose - to win the event.

"To come down here the week before Christmas and to win this tournament is very special," Poulter said. "I had a message from Justin Rose, who said, 'Put a nice gold jacket in your wardrobe like I have,' and it's nice to do that."

The win capped a great day for English golf, as Lee Westwood claimed the Thailand Golf Championship.

Poulter did not take long to erase the struggling Ogilvy's lead, with a 15-foot eagle at the driveable par-four first restoring parity immediately.

A birdie at the seventh moved him ahead before another shot picked up at the ninth allowed him a bit of breathing room as both players headed for home - room he hardly needed as he cantered away with the tournament as others failed to make real headway.

"After the first couple of days when there wasn't much wind people may have thought the Victoria Golf Club was easy, but they were mistaken," Poulter said. "It certainly showed its teeth today."

World No. 1 Luke Donald ended his 2011 campaign with a round of 72, enough to tie for 12th at four-under. He was joined there by Greg Chalmers, who failed in his bid to become only the second player to win all three major Australian tournaments during a single season.

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