Golf-Cevaer beats illness and stress to win European Open

By Tony Jimenez

ASH, England, May 31 (Reuters) - Frenchman Christian Cevaer had to fight off a debilitating illness to secure a surprise win at the European Open on Sunday.

"I have been really unhealthy," he told reporters after a closing two-over 74 gave him a seven-under total of 281 and a one-shot victory over British pair Steve Webster and Gary Orr and Spain's Alvaro Quiros at the London Club.

"I was suffering from inflammation of the bowel the last two weeks. It drains energy from you and to suffer it is not fun.

"I suffered all the way until Thursday when I played with the pain."

The 39-year-old, who will soar from 196th to 30th on the European money list after notching his first win since the 2004 Spanish Open, said it was a stress-related illness.

"I suffer from stress sometimes and with worries off the course you get upset and you get worried a little for the future," said Cevaer.

"Some guys are able to say, 'hey, let's go for a beer', but I sort of took it in."

His wife Fabienne, who has had three miscarriages in the past, is expecting the couple's second child in four to five weeks' time and Cevaer has also been involved in a dispute with his management company.