Kenneth Ferrie captured the 2011 Austrian Open after a play-off with compatriot Simon Wakefield. Here, in an excerpt from The European Tour Yearbook 2012, we recap how the Englishman claimed his first title in six years in Atzenbrugg.
Kenneth Ferrie ended a six year title drought on The European Tour when he overcame his fellow countryman Simon Wakefield to win the Austrian GolfOpen presented by Lyoness after a thrilling final round at the Diamond Country Club.
The Englishman – who turned 33 three days after his triumph – had last held silverware in his hands after the Smurfit European Open in July 2005 and, understandably, harboured doubts about whether it was ever going to happen again.
Indeed, when the Tour exemption for that victory in Ireland ran out at the end of last season, Ferrie only kept his playing privileges for 2011 thanks to a gutsy performance in his final outing of the year in Hong Kong. But the Englishman has no worries on that score now.
Going into the final round in Austria it was Danish rookie Thomas Nørret who led, but a double bogey at the 13th saw him slip back to fourth, leaving Ferrie, Wakefield and Dutchman Joost Luiten to contest the spoils.
When Luiten three putted the 18th for bogey and, in the final match behind, Wakefield bogeyed the 17th, the advantage was with Ferrie but Wakefield bravely birdied the 18th to draw level with his compatriot and send the contest into extra holes.
Returning to the 18th, Wakefield could not repeat the feat and he overshot the green on his way to a bogey five. A superb approach from Ferrie saw him finish a mere six feet from the pin and when his birdie putt dropped below ground, the title was his.
To order your copy of The European Tour Yearbook 2012, a 240-page, full colour hardback Official Publication with iconic pictures by Getty Images and essays from some of the game's top writers that takes you every step of the way through 52 tournaments and 29 destinations on The 2011 Race to Dubai, click here.
