Anderson outlasts Fowler for Masters win

BY Anthony Powter | Australian Mens Amateur Tour | 2009 NEC Master of the Amateurs | Round Four | 16 Jan 2009

Mark Anderson has won the NEC Master of the Amateurs from fellow American, Ricki Fowler, on the third play-off hole after both players finished the tournament proper at 4-under-par.

Today’s victory is Anderson’s third major amateur title, having collected the prestigious 2008 Players Amateur (US) and the 2008 Oglethorpe Invitational. It’s also arguably Anderson’s finest, after the epic three hole play-off against the world number 2.

Mark Anderson Audio Interview

“This is one of the sweetest victories for sure,” said the South Carolina native.

“To come in with a string of birdies to join Rickie [Fowler] and then to win on the third play-off hole with an eagle, is pretty neat.”

Overnight leader Daniel Beckmann was unlucky to join Fowler and Anderson in the play-off after firing a final round 2-over-par 74 to fall short by a single shot. American Adam Mitchell finished in outright 4th position at 1-under-par, three shots from the leaders.

It was a fitting finish to one of the emerging amateur tournaments on the world golfing calendar. Anderson stormed home during the closing stages of today’s round, carding three birdies in the final three holes.

“I did nothing special out there earlier on,” said Anderson, who started the final round three shots off the pace.

“Then I got it going later on with a string of birdies with the closing holes. I was pretty pumped after equalling with Rickie after the four rounds.”

Rickie Fowler possesses a game of pure class.

On countless occasions in today’s final round, the Oklahoma State Freshman scrabbled to make par from seemly impossible positions. Fowler’s steel and determination no more reflected than on Yarra Yarra’s 364 metre par 4, 17th, where he flew the back of the green with his approach, his ball seemingly dead with no green at all to work with.

A superb flop shot left the ball six feet and downhill from the hole with the world number 2 draining the putt to stay alive. Others would have faulted, but not Fowler.

The three-hole play-off battle down Yarra’s par 5 441 metre 18th between the two Americans was equally impressive.

Fowler and Anderson exchanged birdie for birdie for the first two play-off holes, with the first hint of an Anderson victory on the third play-off hole when Fowler put his second shot just off the back of the green to about 10-metres from the pin.

Anderson’s second into the par 5 found the back of the green, leaving a testing six metre downhill putt for eagle. Fowler produced a delightful chip to a meter with his hybrid wood, but it proved to no avail as Anderson’s ball found the heart of the cup.

“That was one way to finish a tournament,” said a relieved Anderson.

“I putted very ordinary earlier in the round and got off to a rough start with a three putt on one, but I was able to hang in there and stayed patient and just remained even or one-under all day.”

Speculation during the week was that Anderson had considered turning professional before coming to the NEC Master of the Amateurs. A solid finish at the US Amateur in July where he made the match-pay section of the Championship on the back of a successful US amateur season, winning both the Players Amateur and the Oglethorpe Invitational, had the 22-year-old eager for the transition to the paid ranks.

Anderson made it clear following today’s victory of his immediate short-term goals.

“I want to try and make the Walker Cup team for US,” he said of the contested biennially tournament between teams comprising the leading amateur golfers of the United States and Great Britain and Ireland.

“I’m staying amateur until September/October and have a heavy amateur schedule in July/August back in the States. That’s my goal to make the Walker Cup team and win more major amateur titles like this one.”

Anderson was all smiles whilst holding the fine glass trophy from today’s spoils and signing autographs a will. Deservedly pleased with his efforts and wearing a champagne soaked shirt after his fellow countrymen, including Rickie Fowler, drenched him on the 18th, Anderson was taking the enormity of the tournament in. He had earned the win in nail biting fashion and the relief was obvious.

“This was a great tournament with a strong international field, as well as some of your best amateurs playing. It’s probably the sweetest victory that I’ve had and it feels just great.”