Jimenez recovers to win Open de France
BY Bruce Young | European PGA Tour | 2010 Open de France | Round Four | 05 Jul 2010
Spain’s Miguel Angel Jimenez took little time to dispatch of fellow playoff contenders at the Alstom Open de France at the Le Golf National in Paris, a par at the first extra hole enough to win his second tournament of the season and his 17th European title.
A bogey by Francesco Molinari and a triple bogey by Alejandro Canizares handed the title to the 46 year old although Jimenez could be forgiven for thinking he had secured the title 20 minutes earlier when he led by two playing the final hole.
Jimenez found the water at the 72nd hole and took double bogey but made amends with a beautiful curling 12 foot par putt to seal the victory in extra time.
A stretch of five birdies in six holes appeared to have set up an unassailable lead for Jimenez but the final hole has proved a graveyard for many this week. Earlier in the day Kenneth Ferrie had taken a quintuple bogey 9 and defending champion and third round leader, Martin Kaymer, also recorded a costly double bogey in the final group of the day when a birdie would have secured a share of 4th position for the German. There were 15 scores of double bogey or worse during the final day’s play on that particular hole.
Rory McIlroy finished alone in 4th after a final round of 66.
Andrew Dodt was the best of the Australasians in 18th position, Richard Green was 32nd, Marcus Fraser 42nd, Adam Scott 48th, Mark Brown 51st, Danny Lee 69th and Michael Campbell 79th.
Campbell might have finished near to last of those who made the cut but his week was highlighted by his first made cut since the Indian Open last September.
The European Tour now moves to Scotland for the Scottish Open at Loch Lomond ahead of the Open Championship at St Andrews on July 15th.
