Gonzalo Fernandez-Castano of Spain tees off at the eighth hole on the final day of the BMW Shanghai Masters golf tournament at the Lake Malaren Golf Club on Sunday. Photo: AFP

Spain's Gonzalo Fernandez-Castano won the BMW Masters by a single shot from Italy's Francesco Molinari and Thailand's Thongchai Jaidee after finishing on 11 under par on Sunday as Rory McIlroy had another roller coaster day.

The Spaniard, lying second overnight on seven under par and playing in the final group, looked to have sealed his victory in spectacular style by chipping in at the 17th hole for a birdie to open up a three-shot lead at 13 under par.

However a few nerves kicked in on the tough 471-yard 18th as he said he "tried to play conservatively" and found fairway and greenside bunkers on his way to a double-bogey six - the only blemish on a card of four-under-par 68 containing six birdies.

"I was glad I had a three-shot cushion," he told reporters after his round, after pocketing the $1,166,000 winner's check that propelled him up to fourth in the Race to Dubai European Tour standings.

McIlroy had stomped away in frustration after his third round on Saturday ended with a double bogey. On Sunday he birdied the monster par-four 18th to finish with a 73.

Before he dashed to the airport to fly to South China's Hainan Province for a "lot of fun" at a money-making exhibition match with Tiger Woods at Mission Hills on Monday, he said could still take positives from the European Tour event.

"Definitely it wasn't the week I was hoping for," said the 24-year-old former world No.1.

McIlroy drove the ball supremely all week, looking to be back near his best with his long game. Around the greens it was a different story.

"I thought the putter got a little better as the week progressed. I definitely left a few out there on the greens, for sure," admitted the Northern Irishman.

The 23-year-old leader for three rounds, Luke Guthrie of the US, trod ­water on a calmer day that saw some very low scoring, finishing fourth at nine under par after a 71.

Molinari carded a spectacular eight-under 64, courtesy of five birdies and an eagle on the back nine, to grab a share of second place.

Defending BMW Masters champion Peter Hanson of Sweden, playing his first event since the US PGA championship in August because of a back ­injury, set the early clubhouse lead with an amazing birdie blitz. The Swede carded 11 birdies and two bogeys in a nine-­under-par round of 63, the lowest of the week, to take him to a share of eighth place - a huge turnaround from his opening-round 79 on Thursday.

Fellow Swede, Race to Dubai leader and FedEx Cup champion Henrik Stenson, appeared to have finally overcome a wrist injury that troubled him earlier in the week. He shot a seven-under-par final round of 65 to share 34th place on two over par for the event.

AFP - Global Times