Anthony Wall finally bridged a 16 year title gap on the European Tour – and proved to his kids that he’s a true champion.

The Londoner battled against the strong winds sweeping over Archerfield Links and beat Sweden’s Alex Noren by one hole to lift the Aberdeen Asset Management Paul Lawrie Matchplay Championship.

Wall made his European Tour breakthrough at the Dunhill Championship in South Africa back in 2000 but has had to wait 16 years and 204 days to savour a second success.

That gap between victories is the longest in Tour history and the Englishman was simply delighted to be back in the limelight again.

Wall, who picked up the first prize of £142,900, said: “I'm just so, so proud to still be doing my job at 41, let alone wining again. 16 years? That’s almost an entire career for some golfers.

“When I first won, my kids weren’t even born but now they can understand that their dad is a winner. In a sport like this, you have to keep believing. Yes, you have your ups and downs, but you always have to believe that you're still dedicated enough and still disciplined enough to do it. I never really thought about it too much but obviously it does build up in you. I did believe I could still do it, but it was starting to fade. After playing so well last year and not doing it, and struggling this year with my back and stuff, I was starting to wonder, I really was.”

Wall’s doubts were probably justified when he was hit by an early birdie blitz from the in-form Noren as the Swede won the first two holes of the 18-hole shoot-out.

Wall clung on, though, and having got back to all-square he inched himself ahead for the first time with a birdie on the 11th. Noren kept nipping away but Wall’s terrific short game helped to stave off those menacing advances. He made a series of fine up-and-downs, particularly at 12, 14, 15 and 17 while Noren’s putt for birdie on that 17th to restore parity horseshoed out.

The Scottish Open champion had one final go at it on the 18th but his birdie attempt to force extra holes stopped on the edge of the cup.

When Wall last won on the Tour, Lawrie, the tournament host here at Archerfield, was still the reigning Open champion.

Wall, who had seven second place finishes during his long drought, said: “Paul will be the first to admit that he came from a normal background and to do what he has done is inspirational.”