European King Fisher wins by seven,

capping it all with holed bunker shot

FROM THE EUROPEAN TOUR WEBSITE
Ross Fisher looked back on a “great week” after overcoming adverse weather and a world-class field to win The European Open in emphatic style at The London Golf Club today.
The 27-year-old Englishman, who began the tournament with a course-record 63, completed a majestic seven-stroke win by holing a bunker shot at the last hole.
That summed up the week, one that began with him qualifying for the Open Championship and contemplating pulling out of this event because of tiredness.
Sergio Garcia thought a closing 68 might give him a chance given the conditions. He then produced a 66 he called one of the top-five rounds of his career and “definitely the best putting round I’ve ever had”.
Yet, as events transpired, the Spaniard would have had to shoot an unprecedented 59 just for a play-off.
Fisher, three ahead of closest challenger Graeme McDowell and nine clear of Garcia overnight, finished with a 68 for a 20 under par total - and with it moved from 21st in The Ryder Cup standings to 11th.
“Just a great week,” he said. “I felt really calm all day, very composed, comfy with my game.
“I got my fair share of luck as well - at the last I was just thinking, ‘Try and put it on the green’. I’m delighted.”
The win was Fisher’s second on the European Tour and having done it in such style against some of the European Tour's biggest names, the future can only look bright for the Englishman attached to Wentworth Club.
Fisher said: “They say the second win is harder. I might have made it look easy, but it certainly wasn’t.”
As for the possibility of a Ryder Cup debut, he added: “I’d love it, but it’s still a long way off.”
Northern Irishman McDowell took third place after a closing 73 and that put him in the tenth and last automatic spot in The Ryder Cup standings.
South African David Frost, at 48 trying to become the oldest winner in European Tour history, finished fourth and that secured a place in the Open Championship at Royal Birkdale in a fortnight.
Fisher’s 50ft eagle putt on the fifth was the one that left the rest with too much ground to make up, providing he avoided disaster.
He played the remaining holes in three under with birdies on the 12th, 15th and 471 yard 18th - there were only 25 birdies there all week and he had three of them.
Garcia admitted he felt helpless trying to prevent Fisher. He said: “I was trying to put some pressure on him, making a lot of birdies out there today, which wasn't easy, and still, he wasn't backing up. I couldn't do anything more.”
McDowell, who dropped four shots in the first four holes, admitted he paid the price for a slow start. He said: “It wasn't the start I dreamed of. It was the start which woke me up in the middle of the night.
"Conditions were really brutal for the first 11 holes and four over for the first four was not what I had in mind at all. I cracked the whip and got me going and I managed to make a couple of birdies and snapped out of it.
“I had to reassess at the turn as suddenly I realised Garcia was having a great day and guys were going past me. Not only was Ross out of reach but second and third were becoming a battle for me. But I was pleased how I turned it around and dug deep and pleased with how I played those last 13, 14 holes.”
Frost was happy with his showing. He said: “I played great and drove the ball extremely well. I can't imagine how well Ross must have played to shoot the score he shot today. It was tough all day, my drive on the first came out of the middle of the club and it went 210 yards. It was tough but in a way great preparation for The Open. Maybe we will learn from this.”