SOUTH African Hennie Otto finally landed his first European Tour title yesterday – but only after he had lost a five-shot lead for the second time in four tournaments.
The 31-year-old, beaten in a play-off by Scot Alastair Forsyth in Madeira in March, was caught at the Italian Open in Milan by England's Oliver Wilson. But this time Otto responded by sinking a 20-foot birdie putt on the 433-yard 13th, and then nar
rowly avoided a bunker with his final drive.
Needing a par four to win, he had to play his second shot with one foot in the sand and conjured up one of the shots of his life to six feet. He two-putted for a 69 and 25-under aggregate of 263, one outside the tournament record of Percy Alliss – father of television commentator Peter – way back in 1935.
For Wilson, the 27-year-old former Walker Cup player from Mansfield, a superb 64 meant a third runners-up finish of the season and a sixth in all. Yet to win, he was left to reflect on a moment of annoyance on Friday when he banged his putter against his bag and bent it. Unable to use it the rest of the round, he actually made three birdies with a wedge on the greens, but his 69 was his worst score of the week.
Swede Robert Karlsson, who broke the Castello di Tolcinasco course record with his 61 on Friday, finished third and joint fourth were England's Phillip Archer and German Marcel Siem.
At 22 under par after 54 holes, Otto was only one outside the Tour record held by Ernie Els and David Howell. He needed a 65 to equal Els' record 29 under at the 2003 Johnnie Walker Classic in Perth, but understandably his focus was on achieving a win that gives him back his Tour membership. Ranked 154th in the world, he has won seven times in his home country since turning professional ten years ago. He received a lot of publicity in the 2001 African Masters when he was so disgusted by a round of 80 that he snapped each of his clubs in half and threw them in a river.
This was only his third European event since then, but he did not look the same player as he stretched his four-shot overnight lead to five with three birdies in his first five holes. And after finding deep trouble off the tee at the difficult sixth and looking in danger of double-bogeying he rolled in a 50-footer for par.
But then it all changed. As Wilson completed a run of four successive birdies from the 11th – and that after going to the turn in 32 – Otto pitched into a bunker on the long 12th and took a six. That brought them level and he went to break his putter over his knee, but Otto had time to regroup and took the £221,303 first prize. "It's great to win," said a relieved Otto. "I have been working very hard on my putting and I don't think I've ever holed more long putts than I did this week."
Liverpool's Nick Dougherty, who flew to the event after attending his mother's funeral on Tuesday, came joint tenth on 17 under after a 67.
Another day of strong winds sent scoring soaring early in the final round at the Players Championship. With winds gusting to 30mph, and a 50 per cent chance of "severe" afternoon thunderstorms, it was set for a tough final day at Sawgrass. The first pairing of the day perhaps set the scene for what was to come later, with Tommy Armour shooting 80 and playing partner Troy Matteson carding an 81.
American Paul Goydos was the overnight leader at seven under, one clear of compatriot Kenny Perry.
Sergio Garcia was probably the only European with a chance, three shots back. The Spaniard would love to become just the second European winner, joining Sandy Lyle (1987) and the conditions were probably in his favour. That was because Garcia was easily the best player in the field from tee to green through 54 holes.
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