Gonzalez fulfills promise with victory at European Masters
IN: News | European PGA | Omega European Masters (2001) | Wrap | by Bruce Young | 10 Sep 2001
I've had my eye on Ricardo Gonzalez ever since I first saw him play in 1998 at the World Cup in New Zealand as I felt then and do so now that here was a guy with raw talent and an ability to win. I gained that impression from not only his play but the fact that he had won in Europe, South America and Africa which clearly suggested that adaptation was never going to be a problem for this big hitting Argentinean.
He teamed with Angel Cabrerra in New Zealand to finish third in the teams event and had at that time just secured, via the Challenge Tour, his card to play in Europe.
It has taken him some time, however, to find his feet there already having secured and lost his card once in 1991 and tried on several other occasions. Perhaps he was just too young when he tried originally, as he is only 31 now. He has developed a greater level of consistency and form this season with several top tens in recent weeks and he now may well fulfil the promise that so many believe he has. He is statistically the longest hitter on the European Tour and the big improvement this year appears to have been his putting.
I would hate to think have far he was hitting the ball in the rarefied atmosphere of Crans sur Sierre which is a skiing village high above the Rhone Valley. Gonzalez was never really challenged from the start after opening with two birdies he lead after round one with a 65 and then proceeded to dominate the event never letting anyone get close.
The Dane Soren Hansen rattled home for second but three behind Gonzalez with invited guest Craig Stadler and Scot Gary Orr one shot further back in third.
New Zealander Stephen Scahill who has rediscovered his April form after a slow few months was tied for sixth despite an ordinary last round 74. He would now appear, however, to have safely secured his card for next season with his $A85,000 taking him to 85th on the money list. The top 115 keep their cards. Peter Fowler in one of his better finishes of late was tied 8th and $A60,000, Stephen Leaney, Peter O'Malley and Greg Turner 16th, Adam Scott 23rd, Elliot Boult 37th, Wayne Riley 70th, and Kim Felton 79th.
Disappointment for Peter O'Malley in that one shot better would have had him on the plane to St Louis for this week's World Golf Championship event courtesy of qualifying criteria involving the top twenty from the European Tour money list. O'Malley remains in 21st only about $600 behind Adam Scott.
