Maximilian Kieffer revealed he applied the lessons learned from last week's play-off defeat as he finished runner up for the second event in a row on the European Tour.
After finishing second to John Catlin at the Austrian Golf Open seven days ago, the German entered the final round of the 2021 Gran Canaria Lopesan Open four shots off the lead.
He could not have done much more as he matched his career best round on the European Tour with a 62 but once again he came up against an unstoppable force, as Garrick Higgo carded a second consecutive 63 to take the title at Meloneras Golf.
After still being four behind as the final group reached the turn, Kieffer eagled the par four tenth after putting his drive to 20 feet and piled the pressure on the leader as he took his birdie tally for the day to seven and came home in 30.
Aggressive drives on the 17th and 18th in a par par finish ultimately proved costly but Kieffer was happy to take an aggressive approach in search of that first European Tour victory.
"I was just trying to go shot for shot," he said. "Even though it is windy you have to have the mindset.
In the clubhouse at 22-under par ✍️
— The European Tour (@EuropeanTour) April 25, 2021
Another impressive week for @m4kieffer #GranCanariaLopesanOpen | @Workday pic.twitter.com/FLEz1qcFRU
"I learned that last week. You have to have the mindset to make as many birdies as possible, so I was just trying to do that and I did a decent job of that on the back nine today.
"I felt great yesterday so I was looking forward to getting out today. I hit great shots the front nine, wouldn’t say I struggled but the putting wasn’t as great as it has been the first two days, maybe.
"I three putted nine which was a bit disappointing at that moment, but then the back nine I started to just go for it. A nice eagle on ten and from then on, I just played phenomenal golf on the back nine.
"I think I birdied the short par four over the cliff which is the toughest drive and I think I was 21 under then and I thought 'maybe I am close now' but then I saw that Garrick was 23 so my mindset didn’t change at all. I was just trying to make as many birdies as possible.
"The 17th is difficult to birdie because the pin was so short and 18 was a little bit disappointing not to birdie it. I needed a big drive to get over that bunker and when you try to hit a big drive you can’t miss it, so didn’t make up-and-down but overall, I am happy with the day."
