Howell consolidates world standing at BMW
IN: News | European PGA | BMW Championship (2006) | Wrap | by Bruce Young | 29 May 2006
David Howell, perhaps in more than any other previous week, has established his bona fide as one of the European Tour's best players with an emphatic five shot victory at the BMW Championship over one of the strongest fields that Tour can assemble.
Not only did Howell take apart the high quality field but he did so over a West course at Wentworth that had been strengthened to test the BMW field to their limits. 310 yards and thirty bunkers had been added but the ease of Howell's victory gave further evidence to just where he now stands in world golf. The victory against such a strong field will move him inside the top ten for the first time in his career.
To add to the impressive nature of his win was that such a winning score of 17 under was created in, at times, difficult and damp conditions. His second round of 65 opened up a three shot lead and from that point on the rest were doing the chasing. At not point today did he appear threatened, his birdie at the par three second across the valley getting things underway followed by the almost obligatory birdie at the fourth and then another at the less predictable fifth. By then he was ahead by five over Jimenez and by seven over Simon Khan.
He had time to smell the roses but he was not about to let his guard down. "It was nice to have such a large lead and to be able to enjoy it," he said. "I did feel in control of my game after the good start but I was not complacent."
"I'm delighted and honoured to have joined a line of such great players on the list of winners of this event," Howell told European Tour Radio after the win. It's our Players Championship effectively. It's played at the home of our Tour and it's our big stage."
Simon Khan's two late birdies at the finishing par fives saw him move ahead of Jimenez into second place.
Brett Rumford finished with a brilliant last round of 65, equalled only by Trevor Immelman. A bogey at the 13th was the only hiccup to what was a remarkable day for the West Australian and the massive purse on offer here enabled him to secure his second largest cheque in his professional career. He earned €212,500 or A$356,000. Only the purse for his Irish Open victory in 2004 was larger.
Richard Green was the next best Australian in 14th place while Nick O'Hern was 25th. It was an unusual tournament for O'Hern who, after nine holes on Thursday, appeared headed for the weekend off. He was four over at that stage but fought his way back to actually be in 12th position heading into the last day.
Wade Ormsby had done all the hard work to share 12th place with O'Hern by Saturday evening but a last round of 78 ended up costing him a lot of money.
Many of the field this week, including the winner Howell, will now cross the Atlantic enroute to Dublin in Ohio for this week's Memorial Tournament.
Photo - Anthony Powter
