GRAEME STORM'S dreams of climbing ahead of Spaniard Sergio Garcia in the Volvo Order of Merit and gaining automatic qualification into next year's US Open disappeared yesterday.

The French Open champion brought the curtain down on a memorable season on the European Tour in the worst possible fashion at the Volvo Masters.

Storm, who had recently suggested he has been suffering from burn-out from playing too many tournaments this season, was never able to reproduce his best form in Valderrama.

Further poor rounds on Saturday (77) and yesterday (75) meant he ended up with a 307, 23 over par, total and such a performance was never going to help him to edge ahead of Garcia in 15th spot in the standings.

It certainly isn't all bad, though, for Storm. The Hartlepool golfer had already done enough to secure his place in the top 20 and that has booked him a place at next summer's Open Championship at Royal Birkdale.

The frustrating thing for Storm was that Garcia also suffered a bad few days in his Spanish homeland. He finished with a 17 over par total.

Storm's £14,500 cheque meant the most successful year of his career ended with almost £900,000 winnings, helped by his maiden Tour triumph in the summer at the French Open.

Yorkshireman Simon Dyson may not have claimed a top 20 place in the Order of Merit, but he claimed second at the Masters behind Justin Rose.

The £241,000 Dyson won yesterday ensured the Malton & Norton man finished with just under £750,000. Ashington's Kenneth Ferrie ended up in 167th place in the Order of Merit.