Darren Clarke surged to a four-shot victory at the KLM Open on Sunday to put himself in pole position to be awarded a Ryder Cup wildcard place.

The Northern Irishman maintained his superb form in Holland with a second successive 66 to collect his second European Tour title of the season.

The 40-year-old made himself a strong contender for one of European captain Nick Faldo's two picks next Sunday.

Dubliner Paul McGinley finished runner-up after a final-round 64.

Three shots clear at the start of the round, Clarke saw playing partner Henrik Stenson close to within one shot after the Swede birdied the first three holes.

But the hero of the last Ryder Cup at Dublin's K Club sank six-foot birdie putts on the next two greens to put himself back on course.

Stenson drew level again with his fourth birdie of the day but Clarke regained control by making birdie at the seventh, while a bogey and double bogey for Stenson saw Clarke move four clear at the turn.

He was never troubled thereafter, and Stenson had to settle for third place after a bogey on the last, with McGinley's final-round charge - featuring an eagle and five birdies - good enough to claim second.

Stenson, fourth in the Ryder Cup standings, is already guaranteed his spot for the clash with the United States at Valhalla Golf Club in Louisville, Kentucky.

Clarke is unable to play his way into the top 10, but gave the strongest possible nudge to Faldo that he is in the form to merit a wildcard place.

Colin Montgomerie, Paul Casey - in contention at the Barclays Classic on the PGA Tour, and Ian Poulter, who could yet play his way into the side, are the other leading contenders.

One more qualifying event remains, this week's Johnnie Walker Championship at Gleneagles in Scotland.

Justin Rose, who remains eighth in the standings after a joint-34th finish in Holland, has opted to play in Perthshire rather than compete for a possible £5m jackpot at the FedEx Cup play-offs in America.

"It's only money - you can't take it with you," said Rose, who will head to Scotland rather than returning across the Atlantic.

"My missus will be upset with me - I told her I'd play well and see her tomorrow.

"It's Plan B - it was not on my schedule to play these two weeks in Europe - but I came to do a job. I didn't do it this week, so I'll do it next week."

Three players would need to overtake the world number 12, but six still have a chance to do that.

They are Soren Hansen, Oliver Wilson, Martin Kaymer, Poulter, Ross Fisher and Nick Dougherty.

Hansen has jumped ahead of Wilson into ninth place with a joint-sixth finish in Holland.

Wilson and Fisher both finished joint 20th, while Kaymer was down in 55th and has lost ground on all those he is chasing.