Stuart Appleby finished as the highest-placed Australian at the British Open, six strokes behind surprise winner Ben Curtis.

Appleby finished with a one-over par round to end the tournament tied for 15th with a 75-71-71-72 five-over par total of 289.

Greg Norman shot the best round of the Australians, with a three-under par 68 to finish on six-over par with rounds of 69-79-74-68 and tie for 18th on 290, along with Ernie Els and Tom Watson.

Norman and Stephen Leaney were the only Australians to break par, although Leaney's 70 did little to make an impression on his overnight total of 15-over, to finish on 14-over 298.

Peter Lonard started the day with a sniff of a chance at four shots behind overnight leader Bjorn, but plummeted from three-over with an inexplicable 10-over par in reasonably calm conditions.

Lonard finished 13-over for the tournament with a card of 73-73-70-81.

Peter Fowler made a brisk start from seven-over with four birdies on the front nine taking him to three-under.

But he stumbled on the way home with two bogeys and a double bogey at the 17th to end up with an even par 70 for the day and stay at seven-over.

Robert Allenby, Australia's highest ranked player at No.16 in the world, went into the final round on nine-over but his poor putting ruined his hopes of finishing with a sub-par round.

He carded a one-over 72 two birdies, two bogeys and a double bogey to finish 73-75-74-72 for a 10-over total of 294.

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