Seventeen years and three operations since his last victory at the Bermuda Open, P.H Horgan romped home six shots ahead of the field to claim this year's event in style.

The victory was sealed in the final round yesterday with a four-birdie streak on the front nine with the American now hopeful this success can re-ignite his career after three years on the sidelines.

His 1985 win in the Port Royal tournament, the 43-year-old's first pro victory, launched a ten-year US PGA career and he is desperate for yesterday's victory to do the same.

Unerring accuracy with his approach shots helped bag birdies at at the fourth, fifth, six and seventh holes to overhaul overnight leader Danny Mijovic, who collapsed to a 78 with back problems, and keep ahead of opening day pacesetter, honeymooning Canadian Ian Doig. The former Belmont Invitational winner eventually shared second place with Fred Mansson and Bruce Rogerson.

"I'm delighted with this win," said Horgan, whose victory was his first since shoulder, hip and wrist surgery.

"The four birdies were the key to my round without a doubt. After that I just had to settle back and play par golf. The secret to good scoring out there was keeping the approach shots close and I think my birdies came from putts of ten, six, three and then, I think, another three feet.

"This victory means an enormous amount to me. I'd like to think it is going to set me off for another ten years on the PGA and if it does I will be buying a house here - I am sure I would be able to afford one."

Rain struck on Saturday, delaying play for a number of the leaders, but the rounds were all completed by the end of the day to allow a smooth finish to the tournament yesterday - although some were smoother than others.

Horgan's hot streak began on the 403-yard par-four fourth, "the toughest hole on the course". A superb three-wood off the tee and an accurate approach left him with the first of his straightforward putts.

Three more birdies followed and despite a dropped shot at the par-three eighth, he went back to four under on the 13th.

Horgan, who was full of praise for the Port Royal staff for the condition of the course, teed off at 9.20 a.m. yesterday in a tie for second place with Fred Mansson and US pro Tim Conley on even par with former European Tour pro Mijovic leading the way as the only player under par.

But Mijovic's failure to find a chiropractor for his ailing back, and a six and seven on the opening two holes, led to a disastrous day out on the course which saw him slide to joint seventh place with a 78.

"This is the first time I have played for six days in a row for a while and there can be no excuses, but I did desperately need a chiropractor," said Mijovic, who now plays on the Canadian Tour.

"When we had the rain delay with five holes to go on Saturday I could feel it going, but I just battled through until the end. But it just didn't work in the final round.

"When you are standing over the ball and you know you don't feel right it makes a lot of difference. I was hitting golf shots that I hadn't hit all week - but I still enjoyed it out there and I will be back."

Another player who suffered yesterday was Doig, who had set a blistering pace with an opening day 66.

The "rookie error" of playing the wrong ball on the 13th on Saturday earned him a two-shot penalty and cost him a share of the overnight lead while a missed three-foot putt on the 18th yesterday denied him second place outright - and an extra $1,500 in prize money.

"I can't be too disappointed because this is my highest finish in the tournament," said Doig, who was married earlier in the week on a Toronto Golf Course and is honeymooning here this week.

"But it is frustrating to have made that rookie error yesterday. The guy I was playing with marked his ball in a similar way, one of us uses a red dot above the word Titleist, the other below - and I got the wrong one.

"It is the first time in 20 years of being a pro that I have done that. After winning the Invitational I wanted to come back and win the Open, I just didn't realise how long it would take me.

"But I am going to keep coming back as long as they will have me."

Local defending champion Dwayne Pearman, meanwhile, finished with a 71 to grab 12th spot while 65-year-old senior pro Jay Dolan continued his week-long good form with a 74 to hold on to seventh spot.

The highest Bermudian finish came from pro Andrew Trott, who carded a 70, the second lowest-score of the final round, to help him secure tenth spot.

Local resident David Allison won the amateur competition by an incredible 14 shots to finish in a very respectable 18th place overall.