It took a nervy four-way four-hole play-off to decide the 2002 Murphy's Irish Open but in the end Denmark's Soren Hansen emerged as the relieved winner to receive the crystal trophy and a cheque for euro266,660 here at Fota Island tonight.
"I'm delighted to have finally won, I have been working hard for this one, it's great tournament to have won," said a delighted Hansen after his maiden European Tour win. He also became the 11th first time winner this season.
England's Richard Bland, Sweden's Niclas Fasth and South African Darren Fichardt alongside Hansen all tied on 14-under 270 to force sudden-death. Earlier Fasth had a great opportunity to win outright with a 20-foot eagle putt but it slid past the cup allowing the others another chance. Second chances became the shoot-out theme after that.
Hansen won with a birdie two at the fourth play-off hole, the par three 17th, where he confidently converted from 14 feet. Fichardt missed his chance from 12 feet and Fasth had pulled his tee shot left. Clumsily, a spectator picked up his ball for no apparent reason then dropped it and the Swede had to play it as 'rub of the green' from where it lay. The joint runner-up for a second consecutive year didn't get the chance to putt.
Earlier, the par five 18th was used twice for the play-off with a lot of nerves on show. The first time round Fischardt was the only one able to find the fairway and the only one able to go for the green in two. The South African did but dramtically proceeded to three-putt and allow the others back in. Hansen got out of jail after finding water on the left but pitched and putted. All four made five first time round.
A hooked drive cost Bland his chance the second time as the others all made birdie fours. Then there were three and it was off to the first for the third tie hole. Hansen missed a 12 footer for a birdie and the win, Fichardt made a brave sand-save for par while Fasth two-putted across the green before it all concluded at the 17th.
Thomas Bjorn, playing the last group with Fasth, couldn't keep the pace on a day when he putted poorly to close with a 72, two shots behind on 12-under.
Another Irish Open came and went and still we wait for a winner from these shores to bridge the 20-year gap since John O'Leary won at Portmarnock in 1982. Although none of the six Irish qualifiers finished in the mix valiant efforts, especially by Padraig Harrington and Eamonn Darcy, made for exciting viewing.
They led the Irish challenge finishing tied sixth on 10-under 274. "It's been a great Irish Open, I personally will be sad to see the event without Murphy's and leaving Fota, remarked Harrington who felt he lost any chance of winning yesterday. "My event was lost on two holes yesterday when I took a double-bogey and a bogey at eight and nine. I got frustrated and pushed too hard when all around were shooting so low."
Harrington shot his low round of the week 66 while Darcy closed with two birdies for a 69. "It was a nice finish, all in all I'm satisfied with playing a solid week of golf," said Darcy who confirmed he will travel with another veteran Des Smyth to America to try and qualify for the US Seniors Tour in November.
Smyth enjoyed his time at the Cobh venue, "I've had a great week, the three at the last was a nice way to finish," he said of today's 69 for an eight-under 276 aggregate. "It was nice to see my name on the leaderboard again, its been some time but still no Irish winner although Padraig made a great run earlier."
The much fancied pairing of Ulstermen Darren Clarke and Graeme McDowell didn't live up to expectations. Eventually they both signed-off with 73's, dropping back to five-under 279. It started promisingly with McDowell making a birdie at the first and Clarke doing the same at the second and third. However, by the time they played the ninth, European Tour referee David Probyn, issued both players a bad time warning. Something neither properly revovered from.
"Rules are rules and that's fair enough," said Clarke "but I didn't think we were that slow and I couldn't get back into my rhythm after that." In fact he dropped three in a row from the 11th after being two-under before the incident.
"Darren told me we were on the clock at the seventh, I didn't even know," said the relatively inexperienced McDowell. "I was surprised we got the warning at nine but we definitely lost our rhythm after that. A 73 wasn't what I had in mind but I'll learn from this week," he said looking forward to the European Open at the K-Club next week.
Earlier Philip Walton didn't have the desired final round as he went in pursuit of a decent cheque from the week. The 1995 Ryder Cup star closed with a one-over 72 to finish two-under overall and euro5,600 for his trouble.
The defending champion Colin Montgomerie failed to mount a serious challenge with today's 70 and finished on six-under 278. Afterwards rumours flared up that he is considering withdrawing from the Open in three weeks time because of ongoing back problems. It has not been confirmed, but if so, it would surely rule Monty out of the European and Scottish Open to be played between now and the Open at Muirfield.
This year also marks the end of an era as Murphy's draw to a close their nine year association with the event as the main sponsors. At present, no information has been disclosed as to where the event will go to next year and who will become the new sponsors. Considering the success of the last two years at Fota, it may not be beyond the realms of possibility to have the current status quo kept for another year.