Retief Goosen underlined his ability to win all around the world with a four-stroke victory over Swede Jesper Parnevik in the BellSouth Classic in Atlanta on Sunday.

The South African pocketed the first prize of nearly £500,000 with a closing round of 70 for a 16-under-par total of 272 and so heads into this week's Masters as one of the main dangers to Tiger Woods's hopes of a successful defence.

It was Goosen's first victory in America since the US Open in June last year - his first major title - but between then and now he has also triumphed in Scotland, Spain, Japan, Australia and his home country.

The European tour's number one money-winner last season has played at Augusta National only three times, missing the cut twice and finishing 40th in 2000, but he is twice the player he was 12 months ago.

Not that it was all plain sailing at the Greg Norman-designed Sugarloaf course after he went into the final day two ahead of Phil Mickelson.

After just two holes he was two behind the world number two, having three-putted the first and then double-bogeyed the short second.

But the significant switch came at the 558-yard fourth, where he holed a 100-foot chip-and-run for an eagle three and Mickelson took six.

Goosen was never caught again and birdies at the sixth, 12th and 15th swept him clear and allowed him an easy run in.

"I was lucky to make a few good putts again," said the 33-year-old, the 15th different winner in 15 US Tour events this year.

It was a disappointing day for the two Europeans who entertained realistic hopes of winning with a round to play.

Dane Thomas Bjorn, third overnight, slumped to a 77 for 12th place, while Ireland's Padraig Harrington had a 74 to slide from sixth to eighth.

Four front nine bogeys - for the second round running - ended Harrington's chances.

By the time he had reached the ninth tee he had already fallen to joint 19th, but he played the remaining holes in two under to climb back up.

"I'm glad it's this week rather than next week," said Harrington.

"It's frustrating to have got myself into a good position (he was third at halfway), then play some lovely golf and not get the rewards.

"These last two days I felt I was getting some tough breaks out there. But I'm going to the Masters to try to win it - it's probably the worst tournament you can finish second in."

Parnevik had a magical time in the tough conditions, his brilliant 65 being rounded off with an eagle putt of nearly 60 feet on the last.

It brought him second place on his own when Mickelson went into the lake on the same hole for a bogey six.

Parnevik, hardly heard of all year apart from the fact that Tiger Woods is dating his former nanny, began the final day in 20th place nine strokes adrift.

"I hit probably the best five-wood I've ever hit onto the last green and then one of the best putts," he said.

"Confidence-wise I'm a 10 out of 10 at the moment. I've been driving so poorly this year, but just as the sun went down last night I figured something on the range to start drawing the ball again."

That, of course, will be key at Augusta National this coming week as Parnevik tries to put right a record of never having finished higher than 20th in the Masters.

"I've been too aggressive in the past. You need to think your way round there and have an unbelievable short game.

"It's just too bad that Tiger has both - and his focus is fantastic there too."

Asked if the new Swedish girlfriend in the world number one's life might change that Parnevik replied: "That was the original plan!"

Colin Montgomerie, 13th with a round to go, had a 74 to slip to 17th, but was encouraged again by his "belly" putter.

But for a triple bogey seven on the 389-yard third, where he was in the creek around the green twice, he would have finished in the top 10 - a position he says he would be happy with at Augusta.

Lee Westwood's 76 put him 39th on one over, while Beaconsfield's Luke Donald, the former Walker Cup star in his rookie season on the US Tour, shot 75 for one under and 25th spot.

Collated final totals in the BellSouth Classic at TPC at Sugarloaf, Duluth, Atlanta, Georgia, United States (USA unless stated, par 72):

272 Retief Goosen (Rsa) 68 66 68 70 (684,000)

276 Jesper Parnevik (Swe) 66 69 76 65 (410,400)

277 Phil Mickelson 65 68 71 73 (258,400)

278 Scott McCarron 67 72 71 68 (182,400)

279 John Rollins 66 70 72 71, Bob Tway 67 71 69 72

280 Dudley Hart 66 72 70 72

281 Phil Tataurangi (Nzl) 71 64 76 70, KJ Choi 70 68 70 73, Steve Flesch 68 68 72 73, Padraig Harrington (Ire) 69 65 73 74

282 Glen Day 68 71 72 71, David Toms 68 68 74 72, Skip Kendall 71 69 71 71, Dennis Paulson 71 68 70 73, Thomas Bjorn (Den) 66 70 69 77

283 Colin Montgomerie (Gbr) 69 70 70 74, Mike Weir (Can) 67 70 69 77, Zach Johnson 68 71 69 75

284 Hidemichi Tanaka (Jpn) 69 68 74 73, Glen Hnatiuk (Can) 69 72 69 74

285 Matt Kuchar 69 74 70 72

286 Bob May 74 70 71 71, Chris DiMarco 69 73 69 75

287 Rich Beem 70 69 76 72, David Frost (Rsa) 72 67 75 73, Kenny Perry 72 71 72 72, Jim Carter 73 68 73 73, Jess Daley 70 71 73 73, Luke Donald (Gbr) 73 68 71 75, Shaun Micheel 68 68 77 74, Andrew Magee 72 70 72 73, Jeff Sluman 68 69 74 76, Bo Van Pelt 71 72 69 75, Kent Jones 68 73 69 77, Steve Elkington (Aus) 64 69 73 81

288 Franklin Langham 74 69 76 69, Paul Stankowski 70 70 73 75 289 Jay Don Blake 71 69 75 74, Deane Pappas (Rsa) 71 73 72 73, Peter Lonard (Aus) 67 75 74 73, Vijay Singh (Fij) 69 69 76 75, Frank Lickliter 71 71 72 75, Lee Westwood (Gbr) 72 70 71 76, Frank Nobilo (Nzl) 66 74 73 76, Stuart Appleby (Aus) 68 70 75 76, Brad Faxon 72 69 69 79

290 John Huston 71 70 78 71, Matt Peterson 71 72 74 73

291 Grant Waite (Nzl) 70 74 74 73, Edward Fryatt (Gbr) 68 75 74 74, Pat Perez 74 69 72 76, Craig Parry (Aus) 68 71 75 77, JJ Henry 68 72 74 77, Jonathan Kaye 73 68 73 77

293 Ian Leggatt (Can) 66 74 77 76, Hal Sutton 72 71 72 78

294 Steve Allan (Aus) 72 70 79 73, Brian Bateman 70 72 76 76, Billy Andrade 71 71 74 78

295 Paul Claxton 73 71 73 78, Miguel Angel Jimenez (Spn) 71 72 73 79

297 Bart Bryant 70 74 78 75, Briny Baird 73 69 71 84

298 Adam Scott (Aus) 69 74 79 76, Richard Zokol (Can) 71 73 73 81

299 Jerry Smith 71 70 79 79, Tommy Armour 74 69 75 81

304 Brett Wetterich 70 72 78 84

305 Brian Watts 71 70 79 85

Withdrew Tommy Biershenk