|
Share this article:
Digg |
StumbleUpon |
del.icio.us |
Reddit
By Phil Casey Special to PA SportsTicker
ZANDVOORT, Netherlands (Ticker) - England's Ross Fisher survived a nerve-wracking finish and lengthy rules investigation before claiming his first European Tour title in extraordinary fashion at the KLM Open on Sunday.
Fisher saw a four-shot lead disappear over the closing stretch before somehow regaining his composure to birdie the last hole from 10 feet and seemingly secure a one-shot victory over local favorite Joost Luiten.
However, before he could sign his card he was informed of a potential rules violation on the 12th hole and driven off in a buggy to investigate.
The debate centered on whether Fisher had moved a bramble from near his ball before playing his second shot to the par five.
The 26-year-old initially thought it was a loose impediment which he could move, but discovered it was still attached to the ground.
Tour officials Miguel Vidaor and Jose Maria Zamora accompanied Fisher as they tried to recreate the incident and study television footage to see whether he had improved his stance.
Eventually Fisher was cleared of any wrongdoing and could celebrate lifting the trophy and $246,186 first prize.
"I feel very lucky and fortunate to be standing here as the winner," admitted Fisher, who signed for a closing 3-under-par 67 for a total of 12-under 268.
"I was ecstatic one minute and then suddenly it was not looking so good. I read the rule and thought `Christ, what have I done?' The buggy ride to the 12th was the longest of my life and to stand there for 15-20 minutes looking at the footage was terrible. I feel very privileged that they said to me 'You haven't done anything wrong, you're the winner.' I went to move it thinking it was a loose impediment but it wasn't and I just left it."
Fisher looked to be cruising to victory when he led by four shots with three to play after four birdies in 13 holes, but then three-putted the 16th and 17th as Luiten - playing three groups ahead - birdied the 16th and 18th.
"I just tried to suck it up," added Fisher, who led after 54 holes of the BMW Championship on his home course of Wentworth earlier this season only to crumble to a closing 84.
"I thought, `You've still got a chance' and although I was a bit angry on the 18th tee I just tried to compose myself and trust my swing. I thought I'd left the putt short but to see it disappear brought a tear to my eyes almost."
Luiten is just 21 years old but has won twice on the Challenge Tour already this season courtesy of closing rounds of 64 and 61, and carded a flawless 66 on Sunday.
"I am happy with the way I played and the spectators, they were great, Luiten said.
"I loved playing in front of so many people and it was a great stimulus for me to play well. It would have been great to win but I would not have wanted to win it by someone else getting a penalty."
Scotland's Alastair Forsyth, Germany's Bernhard Langer, Swede Alexander Noren, France's Thomas Levet and New Zealand's Steve Alker shared third place on 8-under, while overnight joint leader David Carter slumped to a closing 75 for a share of 23rd place.
Langer was playing in his first event in over a month after undergoing surgery to remove kidney stones.
"Overall I played fairly decent," Langer said. "It must have taken us 45 minutes to play the seventh hole as we both looked for balls for five minutes and then had to find a place to drop.
"I felt I left out some shots out there but that is golf and this course is so brutal."
The former Ryder Cup captain turns 50 on Monday and will make his seniors debut on the Champions Tour at Pebble Beach on Thursday.
"There are some great players out there and I will be a rookie next week but then there will be new rookies coming along," he said.
"I think I will enjoy myself and that is what I'm trying to do right now."
|
.jpg)