Goosen's class prevails at Linde German Masters
IN: News | European PGA | Linde German Masters (2005) | Wrap | by Bruce Young | 12 Sep 2005
Retief Goosen today backed up from a win just seven days ago on another continent when he held off a long list of challengers to win the Linde German Masters in Cologne.
Last Sunday, Goosen was adding yet another victory to his long list of international titles when he won the Volkswagen Masters in China and it took him little time to recover from the rigours of long distance travel when he was quickly into contention here. All week he was lurking just off the pace and when he turned up the blowtorch on moving day on Saturday, he found himself in a three way share of the lead.
Sharing the lead with Anthony Wall and Henrik Stenson, Goosen stumbled at the par four third today when he took double bogey and all of a sudden he had a real battle on his hands. With something like fifteen players within three of the lead as the leading group started their round, this would be an intriguing battle and Goosen's early setback ensured even more drama.
Goosen responded in the manner that champions do. He birdied four of the next five holes to regain a share of the lead with and when he made the turn at three under for the day he had a one shot lead. Goosen was not about to stop there and he knew he couldn't afford to with such a congested leaderboard behind him. Four more birdies saw him draw two clear as he stood on the 18th tee. His playing partner for the day, Anthony Wall, found himself within one of the lead with three holes to play but his game deserted him just when he needed it most with bogeys at the last three holes, spending a lot of money in the process.
Goosen altered what seemed like an automatic conclusion to the event when he took three wood from the tee and pulled it left into the water. Taking relief when it was perhaps possible to get a club on it, he hit his third to six feet and although he missed it he still had the one shot advantage that would prove crucial. Playing in the group behind, Stenson and Nick Dougherty still faced the possibility of a tie if they could make a birdie at the last. They could not and the title was the South African's.
Jose Maria Olazabal birdied the last hole to join a four way tie for second with David Lynn, Henrik Stenson and Nick Dougherty.
Goosen now moves ahead of Michael Campbell on the European Tour money list and he will head to Wentworth for this week's HSBC World Match Play as the leading player in Europe and the leading world ranked player in the event.
Richard Green was the best of the Australasians in the event finishing in 26th position, Peter Senior and Michael Campbell were 36th, Mark Hensby 41st, Brett Rumford 61st and Peter O'Malley 66th.
The European Tour heads to Wentworth for the HSBC World Match Play.
Photo - Anthony Powter
