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Parry lifts Vivendi Cup

Chambourcy - Briton John Parry won his first European Tour title by landing Vivendi Cup on Sunday as Padraig Harrington served notice that he has hit form again ahead of the Ryder Cup by closing with a 64.

Scorecard: Vivendi Cup

Overnight leader Parry carded a final round 70 to win by two shots from Sweden's Johan Edfors who closed with a 71.

Irishman Harrington, who just made the halfway cut on Friday, followed up a third round 69 to finish joint eighth after firing seven birdies and an eagle on Sunday.

Parry, arrived in the outskirts of Paris lying 116th in the Race to Dubai money list and worried about retaining his playing card for 2011. He also faltered after leading at the halfway mark in the Austrian Open a week earlier.

But with the €205 000 winners cheque he has an exemption for next year and has proved to himself that he handle the pressure at the top of the leaderboard.

"I didn't feel comfortable in the lead in Austria," said Parry. "But I came here practiced hard and played really well and I felt really comfortable in the lead this time.

"The win means to much to me because I was 116th in the money list and fighting to keep my playing card for next year. Now I know I have got one and can go ahead and plan the whole of 2011."

Edfors had only one chance to overtake the leader when Parry drove into sand at the 17th hole, but he then found the same bunker himself.

European Ryder Cup captain Colin Montgomerie only visited the Vivendi on Wednesday as an ambassador for the event before heading for Celtic Manor to finalise his team planning ahead of the start of the Ryder Cup on Friday.

However, had he stayed around he would have seen plenty of evidence to justify his decision to hand one of his captain's picks to Harrington ahead of Engtland's world ranked number seven Paul Casey.

Harrington was the only European Ryder Cup player to compete in France after Sweden's Peter Hanson withdrew through illness before the start of play on Thursday.

The Irishman added the French tournament to his schedule in a last minute decision after being knocked-out of the Tour Championship being held in Atlanta.

Over the weekend in Chambourcy he conjured up 15 birdies and an eagle which he said was ideal preparation for the cut and thrust matchplay he faces in Wales later this week.

"There's lots of things that you work on during Ryder Cup week but I definitely I don't have as much to do now. I am getting to Wales early, I am enthusiastic and I am ready to go," he said.

"It's been nice to play well here in France, it's nice to post a score, though I did leave a few shots out there which meant I could not put any pressure on the leaders.

"But I hit a lot of good shots. I had my head in the right place most of the time and I was happy with what I saw."

There was further good news for Montgomerie as Hanson's sgent said the Swede, who was suffering with a chest infection, would join the European team in Wales on Monday.

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