Schwartzel wins by three in Madrid
BY Bruce Young | European PGA Tour | 2008 Madrid Masters | Round Four | 13 Oct 2008
Charl Schwartzel might seem like he has been around European Golf for a long time, but at the age of 24 he is still one of the younger winners on the European Tour. Schwartzel’s victory in this week’s Madrid Masters is the South African’s third European Tour victory and comes six years after initially securing his European Tour card in late 2002.
Always a precocious talent, Schwartzel was one of the youngest ever to secure a European Tour card when he finished 24th at Tour School that year and in addition to his ongoing success in Europe he has led South Africa’s Sunshine Tour Order of Merit on three occasions.
Schwartzel took a one shot lead over Ricardo Gonzalez into the final day this week and hardly put a foot wrong all day in his bogey free round of 66. Despite playing for much of the week with a nagging shoulder injury and a virus that had him feeling poorly early in the week, Schwartzel produced some outstanding golf. 18 birdies and three eagles were countered by just five bogeys. A second round of 64 had him in the lead with Australian Marcus Fraser and from there he never looked back.
Ricardo Gonzalez has not enjoyed the best of seasons in Europe in 2008, in fact his status on the Tour was in jeopardy until this week. The 38-year-old’s third round of 62 moved him into contention and although he played well on day four he was no match for the winner.
Pablo Larrazabal, who earlier in the season won the lucrative French Open after prequalifying for that event, finished third in front of his home fans and continues his superb rookie season.
The best of the Australasians was Andrew Tampion who two years ago was playing for Australia at the Eisenhower Trophy. The Victorian is playing on only a very limited status this year after losing his full European Tour status in 2007 but he has won on the Challenge Tour this season and that form seems to be carrying over.
Despite an indifferent final round, Tampion finished 13th and ensures his game is in shape for the Challenge Tour’s Margara Diehl-Ako Platinum Open in Italy this week. Tampion is currently in 29th position on the Challenge Tour money list and has this week and the Tour Championship to move inside the top 20 who will gain European Tour cards for next season.
Early leader, Marcus Fraser, struggled through the weekend and finished 21st, Steve Alker was 29th, Peter O’Malley 53rd and Peter Fowler 67th.
The European Tour now moves south west to Vilamoura in Portugal for this week’s Portugal Masters, the penultimate full field event on the 2008 European Tour schedule.
