Westwood wins again in Europe
IN: News | European PGA | Valle Romano Open de Andalucia (2007) | by Bruce Young | 14 May 2007
Lee Westwood today won his first European Tour event in nearly four years and his 17th overall when he hung on for victory at the Valle Romano Open de Andalucia. It was very much a case of hanging on as the five shot lead Westwood enjoyed at on stage of his round began to dissolve over the closing nine holes.
Westwood raced to the turn in 31 and appeared to have the tournament at his mercy but his nearest challengers, Frederik Andersson Hed and Phillip Archer both eagled the 16th to reduce the margin to one before Westwood himself added a birdie at the same hole and then holed a monster across the green at the last for par to win by two.
“It’s just great to get back into the winner’s circle âÄ“ it’s been a while and you do begin to wonder when it might happen again but you just keep working on the game and practising in the hope it will come along soon,” said Westwood after his win. “It doesn’t feel like it has been four years and certainly doesn’t feel like the slump I had previously as I have been able to retain a reasonable standard in that time and, in the main, stay in the top fifty in the World ranking.”
A change of putters on Thursday evening to a putter he had given up on after the Masters made all the difference. He added a 64 then a 65 and his 67 was more than good enough to get the job done.
Frederik Andersson Hed continued an impressive run of form when finishing in joint second place this being his third top six placed finish in his last three European Tour starts.
Phillip Archer produced a final round of 65 to record his best ever finish on the European Tour since first arriving in 2000.
The best of the Australians was New South Wales golfer, Matthew Zions, who originally hailed from Kemspey but who attended university in the USA before gaining his European Tour card late last year. His 9th place today was by far his best finish to date.
Scott Strange was 34th, Terry Pilkadaris 44th, Peter Fowler and Wade Ormsby 50th and Matthew Millar 73rd.
The European Tour is now on its way to Ireland for this week’s Irish Open.
Photo – Anthony Powter
