England’s Danny Willett claimed his first European Tour title at the rain-lashed BMW International Open in Germany on Sunday when he beat Australia’s Marcus Fraser on the fourth playoff hole.
In his 106th tour start, overnight leader Willett finished tied with Fraser on 11-under par for the tournament at the end of the final round on the Gut Larcenhof course in Cologne.
But the 24-year-old held his nerve on the fourth hole of the sudden-death playoff when he tapped in for a par after Fraser had three-putted for bogey.
Finishing the final round one shot behind in joint third were Ireland’s Paul McGinley, Spaniard Gonzalo Fernandez-Castano and England’s Chris Wood.
“It’s amazing,” said world No.204 Willett, “It was a tough day – it was brutal with the wind whipping and it was raining.
“Marcus had a great round today and I hung in there nicely. Hopefully I gave people a good show.
“This week has been strange, I’ve been working really hard with support from my family and my girlfriend. I’ve had some ups and downs in the last 18 months as everyone knows but I’m injury free now and back to playing well.”
Willett feared it was going to be his 20th top-10 finish without victory when he threw away a handy lead.
The Englishman had been three clear after eight holes of the final round but had his lead cut after bogeys at the ninth, 11th and 15th.
But the former world No.1 in the amateur ranks was given a reprieve when Fraser bogeyed the 18th.
That meant he finished level with Fraser after Willett’s superb three-iron escape from close to the trees and the pair had to play the 18th four more times to settle the issue.
First they parred it with Fraser holing from 12 feet, then they bogeyed it with Willett missing from four feet, and then they parred it again.
Fraser, twice a winner on the European tour, was favourite to land the title when he was 30 feet away in two and the Yorkshireman went over the green.
However, Willett almost chipped in, then saw Fraser lip out and miss his four-footer coming back.
Fraser was left to regret straying down the right on the 18th in regulation play as he took three to reach the green but afterwards, the New South Welshman was happy with his week.
“It was good fun,” said the 33-year-old Fraser.
“Danny is such a great guy and he’s an awesome player – it’s the first of many tournaments for him, that’s for sure. It was nice to have a chance but unfortunately I couldn’t do it.
“I’ve got to be pleased with the week. I played really well, three out of the four days and managed to make a few putts. It’s just the way this game goes sometimes, you have to take it on the chin and get ready for the next week.”
Willett and Fraser will now turn their attention to trying to qualify for the British Open.
Australian Richard Green finished at two-under par for the tournament after carding his third consecutive 73, with John Daly and New Zealand’s Michael Campbell five shots further back.
