Underrated Phillip Price holds on in cliff hanger
IN: News | European PGA | Smurfit European Open (2003) | Wrap | by Bruce Young | 07 Jul 2003
Phillip Price won his third Smurfit European Open title today when he held on in a nail biting finish to keep Mark McNulty and Alistair Forsyth at bay. Although Price had led from round one, the result was in doubt until the last putt was holed.
Price is a very much an underrated player. What causes that I'm not sure. Perhaps it is that he hasn't won as often as the amount of times he has put himself in a position to win would suggest he should. He has after all finished second eight times and third four times in his European Tour career which started back in 1991. "I suppose I'm a bit short on titles and it has bothered me a little bit that I haven't won more often, especially a big tournament," said Price. "But I class this as a big tournament and to win here is just fantastic."
This win is far and away his most significant, but he may well argue that the most significant moment in his career came last year at The Belfry when he beat Phil Mickelson in assisting the European Team to topple the Americans at the Ryder Cup. That one moment, more than any other in his career, will have given him the confidence and self-belief that perhaps he previously lacked. It should also be remembered that he has finished second to Tiger Woods in a World Golf Championship event in near darkness in Ohio in 2000.
Price has worked closely with psychologist Alana Fine over the past few years and he would have needed every bit of his help, especially when a three putt bogey at the seventeenth hole saw his long time lead disappear. He needed to birdie the par five last to beat both Alistair Forsyth and Mark McNulty, the latter was looking to become the oldest winner on the European Tour should fortune have turned his way. Price was able to produce the bride he was seeking after a good drive and a four iron followed by a delightful pitch from behind the green. Price very gladly picked up the cheque for 481,000 euros ($A845,000).
Aside from the winners and with The Open just two weeks away there were some other performances of note. Gary Evans, who was perhaps the surprise packet at Muirfield last year, was fourth, after a rather ordinary year to date, Darren Clarke and Eduardo Romero were fifth, Colin Montgomerie 12th and the disappointment when so much was expected, Padraig Harrington, a distant 61st.
The leading Australasian was Nick O'Hern who finished the day in 19th place, Stephen Scahill 37th, Richard Green 46th, Stephen Leaney and Brett Rumford 56th and defending champion Michael Campbell 71st.
