Rumford chips in for European Masters win
IN: News | European PGA | Omega European Masters (2007) | Round Four | by Bruce Young | 10 Sep 2007
Australian golfer Brett Rumford today won his third European Tour event, his first in three years, when he chipped in for a birdie at the first extra playoff hole to claim the Omega European Masters title in Crans Sur Sierre in Switzerland.
Rumford and Englishman Phillip Archer were tied at 16 under par before both players returned to the par four 18th. Rumford missed the fairway and was a little long with his second but the man who is renowned for his impressive short game again displayed why. He chipped in for the birdie and Archer was unable to respond with his birdie putt.
“It’s hard to explain the emotions that are running through my body,” said Rumford later. “I sat in a porta cabin for five minutes after the win balling my eyes out. It’s been a trying year but I have kept trying every week to make it happen. It’s been a long wait but I am now looking forward to spending time at home with my family and celebrating the win.”
One person who will be happy for the win but bitterly disappointed that he was not part of it will be Rumford’s long time caddy Max Cunningham, who was not on the bag this week.
Rumford’s last win was at the Irish Open in 2004 when he ran down fellow countryman, Peter Lonard, in the final round. The other European Tour title on Rumford’s victory list was the St Omer Open in France in 2003.
Both Archer and Rumford had bogeyed the 17th to miss the chance of outright victory. Archer had been on a roll prior with seven birdies in his first 16 holes to throw down the gauntlet to Rumford and the defending champion Bradley Dredge. Dredge and Rumford had started the final round tied in the lead at 13 under par, one ahead of Oliver Wilson and three ahead of Archer but Archer birdied six of his first ten holes and took the lead ahead of Rumford and Dredge.
Dredge dropped back with a bogey at the 11th but when Rumford birdied the 11th and 12th he was at 17 under and led briefly before Archer birdie the 15th. The bogeys at the 17th would cost both players the chance of winning it in regular time but Rumford sealed the deal and the €333,000 with his great chip in extra time.
Dredge, who won this event by eight shots in 2006 finished third ahead of Welshman Sion. E. Beeb, who in his first full season in Europe has moved closer to the possibility of retaining his playing rights. The €100,000 he earned has moved him to 145th on the money list but there is still work to do for the 38-year- old.
The next best of the Australians was Peter O’Malley who was 37th while Terry Price made another cut but finished well back in 62nd place.
The European Tour now heads to Germany for this week’s Mercedes-Benz Championship in Cologne.
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