Fisher survives rules enquiry for first victory

BY Bruce Young | European PGA Tour | 2007 KLM Open | Round Four | 27 Aug 2007

Ross Fisher today won his first European Tour event, the KLM Open in Zandvoort in the Netherlands, but even after holing the winning putt the drama was not over.

A putt of eight feet at the last hole saw the 26-year-old finish one shot ahead of local hero and bright young star, Joost Luiten, but he was informed soon after that he would need to return to the 12th hole to re-enact a possible rules infringement on that hole earlier in the day.

Fisher had attempted to move a bramble runner on that hole but quickly realised that it was attached and left if where it lay. A reporter on the golf course had noticed the possible infringement and spoke to a rules official about what he had seen. After hearing Fisher’s explanation it was decided there had been no infringement as his stance or swing had not been improved as a result. The result would stand.

Fisher had therefore become the 16th first time winner on the European Tour in 2007 and had held out another looking for his first win, Joost Luiten.

Fisher is in his second season on the European Tour after gaining his card via the Challenge Tour in 2005. He played very well early in his first season in 2006 and started well again this season with a 4th in South Africa and a 5th in Dubai after leading.

Fisher had started the final round in a share of first place with New Zealander Steve Alker and Englishman, David Carter, but after a birdie at the 13th hole he had moved to four under for the day and appeared to have the tournament in safe keeping. He enjoyed a four shot lead at that point but consecutive bogeys at the 16th and 17th and a strong finish by Luiten closed the gap to just one.

21-year-old Luiten is one of the most exciting youngsters in Europe. He was a member of the Eisenhower Trophy winning Dutch team last October and turned professional immediately. Even though Luiten had no status anywhere at the start of this season he ventured to Africa to play whatever Challenge Tour events he could gain a start in and after a couple of top tens he won at his third start and he had a place to play for the rest of the year. He won again a few weeks later and is guaranteed status on the European Tour in 2008 but this might go close to securing him status via his European Tour efforts. He is a special talent.

New Zealander, Steve Alker, advanced his cause for playing rights in 2008 when he recovered from a shaky start to salvage a share of third. Alker is back playing the European Tour after several years in the US on both the Nationwide and then briefly the USPGA Tour. He earned €70,0000 for his week’s work and has moved from 183rd on the money list to 140th. Next week at Gleneagles, on a golf course that may also suit his game, he’ll get a further chance to stake his claim.

Alker shared third with Alistair Forsyth, Thomas Levet and Bernhard Langer who, just one day short of his 50th birthday, gave evidence of the damage he will do on the Champions Tour.

The best of the Australians was Brett Rumford who finished 17th, David Bransdon was 23rd, Matthew Millar 65th and Wade Ormsby 70th.

The European Tour now heads to Gleneagles in Scotland for the Johnnie Walker Championship.