Green falls just short at KLM Open
BY Bruce Young | European PGA Tour | 2006 KLM Open | Wrap | 14 Aug 2006
Richard Green’s magnificent weekend charge at the KLM Open left him just short of winning only his second European Tour event and continued a frustrating time in his pursuit of his second win in Europe.
A stunning third round of nine under 62 at the Kennemer Golf Club in Zandwoot in the Netherlands was followed by a final round of 67 a weekend that saw him move from 62nd on Friday evening to a playoff with the much improved Englishman Simon Dyson.
Green continued his Saturday run today and by the time he reached the turn he was sharing the lead with Irishman Damien McGrane. It then became a race to the finish but a bogey at the tenth saw Green’s momentum slow and it would take until the 16th hole before he got things moving in a forward direction again with a birdie at the par five. He followed that up with another at the 17th and as he stood on the 18th tee he was at 14 under and had the lead by two although Dyson, who was playing two groups behind was about to birdie the 16th and 17th to draw level.
Neither player was able to birdie the 72nd hole in fact Dyson very nearly blew a very short par putt and it was to the 18th again they would head with Dyson making birdie to put a quick end to proceedings.
For Dyson this win continues his best season in Europe following his maiden European Tour win earlier in the year in Jakarta. He joined the European Tour in 2001 after learning his trade in the professional ranks in Asia.
While Green will be pleased with the form he has shown leading into next week’s USPGA Championship his performance continues a series of runner up placings over recent years. Since July of 2004 Green has recorded three second placed and three third placed finishes, his second European Tour win proving very elusive. It is perhaps a nice problem to have but there is little doubt that another victory to go with his Dubai Classic victory is what he is after.
Green now heads to the USPGA with his game in better shape than was the case when he missed the cut in his lead up last year. Then he had played at the Gleneagles event the week prior, which was scheduling he now regrets, but he seems on a better path now.
Damien McGrane led into the final day but was passed by the playoff protagonists. Like the other players from Ireland his thoughts and indeed the thoughts of so many were with Darren Clarke who had earlier in the day lost his wife Heather to a long battle with breast cancer. McGrane did however hold on to finish third and in doing so recorded his best ever European Tour finish. It was a day of very much mixed emotions for the 35 year old form County Meath.
The best of the Australians, other than Green, was Matthew Millar who was 39th, while Peter O’Malley was 42nd.
The European Tour now heads to the Cadillac Russian Open while for the leading players they will be in Chicago for the USPGA Championship.
