Fasth follows US Open heroics with BMW win
IN: News | European PGA | BMW International Open (2007) | Round Four | by Bruce Young | 25 Jun 2007
Sweden’s Niclas Fasth followed up his outstanding fourth place finish in last week’s US Open by winning his fifth European Tour title and his third in the last fifteen months at the BMW International title in Munich. The victory moves Fasth to his highest position ever on the European Golf Tour at this stage of the season. He is currently in 5th position after several good finishes in big events including his third place in Dubai, sixth place at the WGC-CA event in Miami, fourth place at Oakmont and now this victory.
Fasth’s final round of 70 was enough to hold off the veteran Bernhard Langer, who was looking to win this event for the first time, having been runner up on four previous occasions, and Portugal’s Jose-Filipe Lima. It was a huge comeback for Langer, who at one stage in the first round when he had slumped to five over par, was considering withdrawing due to an injured neck. He finished with 76 then played the final 54 holes in 15 under par. Langer, who turns 50 in August, is having a great year including a runner up placing at the Crowne Plaza Colonial in the US last month.
Fasth started the final round in a share of first place with Lima and although Lima started well with a birdie at the third, he fell away and it was left to Langer to challenge Fasth for the title. After a shaky few holes during the front nine, Lima made a grip adjustment half way through his round that seemed to work for him and two late birdies got him back into his share of second place.
Ricardo Gonzalez completed a big week for golf in Argentina when he was home in 33 for a share of fourth place with Anders Hansen and Maarten Lafeber. Perhaps inspired by the deeds of his look-alike and fellow countryman, Angel Cabrera, last Sunday, Gonzalez recorded his best finish in Europe for more than twelve months.
The best of the Australians was Peter Fowler who finished 33rd while Terry Price had a better week when finishing 45th and Brett Rumford finished 56th. Price is still struggling to regain the game he lost when a broken leg incurred in an accident nearly two years ago effectively put him out of action for more than a year.
The European Tour now heads to France for the €4 million French Open.
