ESPN Golf

VERSAILLES, France -- John Bickerton of England shot a 2-under-par 69 Sunday to win the French Open by one stroke for his second European tour victory.

He finished at 11-under 273 and won a spot at this month's British Open at Hoylake. His other title came last year at the Abama Open de Canarias.

"I need to go home tonight and reflect on this win with a couple of large beers, or even three or four," he said.

Padraig Harington (66) was at 274. Ian Poulter (69), Marcus Fraser (69) and 2005 U.S. Open champion Michael Campbell (73) were at 276.

Bickerton held the first- and second-round lead and began the final round a shot behind Campbell. He pulled even with the New Zealander with a third-hole birdie.

Campbell bogeyed the 15th but birdied the next hole to move within a shot of Bickerton. Any chance the New Zealander had of winning ended when he put his second shot in the water at the last hole en route to a double bogey.

Bickerton said he thought he could win after shooting a 63 Thursday.

"This is easily the best moment in my golfing career," he said. "And though I felt so nervous over that 2½-foot putt at the last, this is what we play this game for. Just to feel that buzz of winning."

Harrington also was second at last week's rain-delayed Booz Allen Classic in Maryland.

"It is not a consolation finishing second and getting a whole lot of Ryder Cup points, no, not at this moment," the Irishman said. "But I can't complain as this was a very difficult golf course for me, and I am quite happy to have done so well."