CRANS-SUR-SIERRE, Switzerland, Sept 8 AP – Thomas Bjorn made a 12-foot birdie putt on the first playoff hole on Sunday to beat Craig Lee for the European Masters golf title.
Bjorn watched Lee’s attempt from 15 feet slide left of the hole on the par-4 18th. Both had finished with 20-under-par totals of 264.
“It was to be my week,” said Bjorn, who shot a bogey-free six-under 65 in the final round. “I have got a long love relationship with this golf course.”
Earlier, both players missed 20-foot putts to win in regulation on the misty, rain-swept final green following a 30-minute fog suspension.
Bjorn, who waited out the delay on the 18th tee, missed left and then watched on TV in the scorer’s hut as the 36-year-old Lee of Scotland sought to clinch his first career title.
Lee, who led by two shots after his 61 on Saturday, had his putt catch the right lip of the hole and carded a 67.
“He was unfortunate not to hole that,” said Bjorn, recalling how he finished one shot behind Phil Mickelson at the 2005 PGA Championship. “I have had one lip out to get a playoff in a major championship.”
Bjorn’s 14th career European Tour title was his first since winning the same event in 2011.
The 42-year-old Dane earned 366,660 euros ($A530,700). Lee’s 244,440 euros ($A353,800) looks certain to secure his European Tour status for next year.
“(Craig) needed to do a lot of things to get his card and he has done that,” Bjorn said. “He did tremendous over the week.”
Victor Dubuisson of France was third, one shot back after shooting 66.
Just like two years ago, Bjorn made a Sunday charge for the title in the thin mountain air of the Swiss Alps.
Bjorn fired five birdies in the first eight holes, and added another at the par-5 15th. His entire tournament was a model of consistency with just two dropped shots and no eagles in four rounds.
He received a text message soon after his victory from Europe’s 2014 Ryder Cup captain Paul McGinley.
Lee drew level at 19-under with a 25-footer for birdie at the 14th, then both contenders holed birdies at the 15th.
Soren Hansen of Denmark made the second hole-in-one of the weekend, using a seven-iron at the 196-metre third hole.
