Levet back to his best at Andalucia Open
IN: News | European PGA | Open de Andalucia (2008) | Round Four | by Bruce Young | 31 Mar 2008
Nearly four years after his previous win on the European Tour at the 2004 Scottish Open, Frenchman Thomas Levet has parred the first extra hole of a playoff at the MAPFRE Open de Andalucia to defeat England’s teenage prodigy, Oliver Fisher.
The playoff pair finished three clear of overnight leader and defending champion Lee Westwood, who after a fast start to his final round when he birdied four of his first six holes, dropped three shots in the remaining 12 holes. Fisher and Levet consolidated their good starts to the final round and drew clear of Westwood during the back nine.
Fisher appeared on track to win his first European Tour title but Levet birdied the 16th and 17th to get within one and as the final trio of Levet, Fisher and Westwood eventually reached the 18th tee, Fisher was one ahead of Levet and four ahead of Westwood. Fisher pulled his tee shot into the water and now his task was to make bogey which he was able to do.
Ten minutes later on the first playoff hole, Fisher was again making a mess of the 18th as he found the fairway bunker, then hit his third over the green and eventually holed a lengthy bogey putt. It was all but over by then however after Levet had hit a fine second to 12 feet. He missed his birdie but it mattered not as he had the title.
Levet at the age of 39 is a 17 year veteran of the European Tour with three victories to his name. The highlight though perhaps came in 2002 when he shot a final round of 66 at Muirfield in 2002 to join a playoff with the eventual winner, Ernie Els, Stuart Appleby and Steve Elkington. He survived the initial four holes but then lost to Els in the sudden death.
Levet struggled with illness for two years and it was not until early in 2007 that be began to play well again picking up several good finishes including a 3rd place at the KLM Open. A 10th in Dubai has been his best in 2008 but at his best and against a slightly weaker field he found his mark this week.
Fisher, who at just 19 years of age is considered by many to be a future star of the European Tour and World golf, has made a lot of cuts this season but has a best of 9th at the Michael Hill New Zealand Open. In fact 9th had been his previous best finish on the European Tour that being in New Zealand and at last year’s Johnnie Walker Classic at Gleneagles.
Westwood finished alone in third while the Swedish pair of Alexander Noren and Patrick Sjoland tied for 4th.
Matthew Millar was the only Australian in the field and he contended for much of the week before finishing 12th to follow his 10th last week on the Madiera Islands while New Zealander Gareth Paddison finished 39th.
The European Tour will now play the Estoril Open de Portugal near Lisbon.
