Career changing win for Haig at Johnnie Walker
IN: News | Asian | Johnnie Walker Classic (2007) | Wrap | by Bruce Young | 04 Mar 2007
It might not have been the dream finish that the tournament organisers were hoping for at the Johnnie Walker Classic at Blue Canyon in Phuket, Thailand, but for the 20-year-old winner of the event, South African Anton Haig, it probably matters little to him.
Haig's playoff victory over fellow countryman, Richard Stern, and England's, Oliver Wilson, served notice that this is a young man with a great future in the game and that he was able to birdie the 72nd hole to force his way into a playoff and then hit three fine shots to birdie that same hole twenty minutes later, speaks volumes for the man who earlier in the week played with his golfing heroes and fellow countrymen, Ernie Els and Retief Goosen for the first time, in a practice round.
"I'm ecstatic," said Haig immediately after the victory. "I felt I hit it well all week and finally putted well for a change. I drove it very well all week with a new Callaway driver I received just this week and it worked great."
"I'm also happy to have won in front of my parents who are here for the first time and so I might just have them here every week now," he said jokingly. "This has changed my life and it is a dream come true," he added when struggling to come to terms with his achievement shortly afterwards.
Haig's chances looked to have disappeared when he bogeyed the 17th but the then leaders, Wilson and Sterne, threw him a lifeline when they both missed the green right at the same hole and took bogey. As they were in the process of doing that, Haig hit a magnificent second from the left rough at the 72nd hole to 4 feet and made birdie to move into a share of the lead with Wilson and Sterne.
Wilson left his second to the 72nd hole 22 feet short while Sterne finished 12 feet behind the cup. Both players missed and so it was to the playoff for the trio. All three hit good tee shots at the first playoff hole, the 18th of the course at Blue Canyon, but Haig had the advantage in terms of length. Wilson was first to play and finished on the front edge and some 35 feet from the hole. Stern was next and finished 15 feet short. Haig hit a fine second to 6 feet right of the cup but was left with a putt with a lot of right to left swing.
Both Wilson and Sterne missed their chances, Sterne lipping out of the top lip and it was left to Haig to handle the breaking putt. Not only did it go in but it went in the middle of the cup and the title was his.
Haig now has an exemption on the European Tour for two years and for the man many tip to follow in the footsteps of Ernie, Retief and Trevor (Immelman), the victory provides the vehicle to do just that.
Haig joined the Asian Tour in 2006 and won the Pulai Malaysian Masters where interestingly he also used a new driver for the first time that week. He played less than the minimum amount of events on the Asian Tour in 2006 and therefore did not secure an Order of Merit ranking but the win had given him status for 2007.
Haig's other wins were on the South African Sunshine Tour in 2005, where he won the Seeker's Travel Pro Am and in 2006 when he won the Namibia PGA Championship but this has been a win that will change his life and golfing options considerably.
Haig was one of five South Africans to finish inside the top nine. Haig, Sterne, Els, Goosen and a somewhat resurgent, David Frost, all finished in that group.
Finishing in fourth place was Retief Goosen, albeit three shot behind the playoff while Canadian Mike Weir survived a roller coaster to finish fifth after a last round of 67. Weir had opened with 66 but inexplicably followed that with 78 before bouncing back over the weekend.
Pre-tournament favourite, Ernie Els, overcame a slow start to the week to finish in a share of 6th place.
The best of the Australasians was New Zealander Richard Lee whose form reversal this week has been quite bizarre. Unable to make a cut in his last four events on the Asian Tour, Lee has chosen a good week to find form, the A$45,000 he won for his share of 14th a godsend to him. He will rue dropping four shots in his last 14 holes today but he will be pleased with his week overall.
Adam Bland is another who likely had his best ever payday in the game when he finished in a share of 16th and earned A$36,000. The Von Nida Tour order of merit winner in 2005 appears to be back on track after a wayward 2006.
Also in 16th place were Terry Pilkadaris and Aron Price while Adam Scott, Brad Kennedy, James Nitties and Matthew Millar were 25th.
The Asian and European Tours now head to Singapore for this week's Singapore Masters while the Australasian Tour will resume in November.
