FRENCHMAN Christian Cevaer held his nerve in tough conditions to win the European Open by one shot at The London Golf Club, near Ash.

The world number 449, who was the joint overnight leader with Indian Jeev Milkha Singh, managed to hold his game together, despite being three over at the turn.

After Garry Orr, Steve Webster and Alvaro Quiros finished on six under, Cevaer stood on the 18th tee knowing a par would be enough to clinch his second tour victory of his career.

The par-4 18th, statistically the hardest hole on this year's European Tour to date, had claimed many victims over the four days and scores of seven and eight were not uncommon.

Cevaer showed no nerves as he hit two of the best shots of his week to make the four needed to pick up the title and the £300,000 winners cheque.

"I'm not a long player, but I used my utility club and it worked out great," he said after being showered with champagne by the French contingent, who were present at the tournament.

"I made a point that no matter what happened just enjoy my golf, enjoy my skills and hang in there."

After last year's champion Ross Fisher romped to the title by seven shots, completely destroying the course, 2009's championship was a completely different animal.

The fairways had been narrowed, some holes were lengthened and the greens seemed to baffle the majority of the players over the four days.

A host of famous players failed to make the cut including defending champion Fisher, Retief Goosen, Masters winner Angel Cabrerra, Players Championship title winner Henrik Stenson, John Daly, Darren Clarke and Michael Campbell.

The final day had plenty of twists and turns and there will be a number of players who will leave Kent knowing they let a golden opportunity slip by.

Quiros, Webster, Chris Wood, Stephen Dodd and Marcus Fraser all held the lead, but none of them could stop dropping shots when consolidation would have been good enough.

Cevear, not one of the tour's longer hitters, used his considerable skills around the greens and accuracy to his advantage as he kept his cool superbly.

The Frenchman's long game was equally impressive and he used his favourite weapon, a utility club, on numerous occasions with excellent results.

Spain's Sergio Garcia, runner-up last year, finished in 13th after a fine final round of 68 and Northern Ireland's Rory McIlory finished in 12th after a disappointing 75.

Just under 100,000 fans attended the event with the free-ticket promotion proving to be a masterstroke, following last year's success.