Strange completes emphatic win in Wales

BY Bruce Young | European PGA Tour | 2008 The Celtic Manor Resort Wales Open | Round Four | 02 Jun 2008

Scott Strange not only secured his biggest cheque in his professional golf career, he also ensured he would have many more chances to repeat the performance after winning the Celtic Manor Wales Open by four shots over the red hot Robert Karlsson.

The West Australian’s victory gives him exemption in Europe until the end of 2010 and given the manner in which he demolished this field, there is every reason to believe there is more to come. Today’s victory was worth €376,000 or A$620,000.

Strange battled for full exemption in Europe for two years before finally securing his confirmed status courtesy of a 10th place finish at the Alfred Dunhill Links event at St Andrews late last year. That allowed him to finish 110th on the money list and instead of having to combine Asian and European Tour events he had access a full European Tour schedule. A runner up finish to Mark Brown at the Johnnie Walker Classic earlier this year all but assured him of ongoing status for 2009 and with that security he has continued to blossom.

Strange won two events during his time in Asia, the 2005 Myanmar Open and the 2006 Philippine Open but clearly this is another level and highlights just how far he has come in the past two years.

This win however, especially give its emphatic nature, was an eye opener to many who might not necessarily have seen him as a winner at this leveland it will be interesting to see how his game develops from here. Strange’s game is built around accuracy rather than power and although not one of the best putters in Europe, he certainly made his share this week.

Strange led from his opening round of 63 and his chasers hardly had a look in all week. Just when a player of his limited experience at this level might have been expected to struggle on the final day, he opened with three birdies in his first four holes and served notice that this was his tournament. Only Karlsson and, briefly, Darren Clarke offered any real challenge but Strange was more than equal to the task.

He birdied seven of his first fourteen holes today and by then he was at 22 under and led Karlsson by four with daylight back to the rest. The birdie supply dried up over the closing holes but it mattered not for Strange, who won by four over Karlsson and by eight over the third placed Raphael Jacquelin.

For Karlsson his second place continues a remarkable run in recent weeks having finished 8th at Augusta, third at the Italian Open and Irish Open and third at last week’s BMW PGA Championship where he three putted from short range at the final hole at Wentworth to cost himself outright third and a chance at the playoff.

Benn Barham, Darren Clarke, Nick Dougherty, Rafa Echenique and Fransesco Molinari tied for third, one shot further back but nine shots adrift of Strange.

The next best of the Australasians was New Zealander Gareth Paddison in 50th place while Peter O’Malley was 61st.

For several playing at Celtic Manor, they will have jumped into a car and headed across to Surrey for Monday’s sectional qualifying for the US Open. Scott Strange has decided against that, preferring instead to savour perhaps the greatest moment in his golfing life.

The European Tour’s next event is later this week at the BA-CA open in Austria.