Per G Nyman put all of his faith into his magic putter and was rewarded with the Rotterdam International Open after an intense finale saw the Swede win by a single stroke from the Welsh duo of Kyron Sullivan and Craig Williams after sinking a testing 12 foot birdie putt on the 18th green for the title.
Nyman, who carried a five shot lead into the final round, began the day with an outrageous 50 foot birdie putt on the first hole but then was frustrated by a lack of opportunities as Sullivan and Williams – playing in the last group of the day alongside Nyman – roared into contention.
Sullivan went to the turn in one over par, but was quickly back in contention with three birdies in the space of eight holes to take him within a shot of the leader as the final group stood on the last tee.
Likewise Williams, who played his front nine in two under par and picked up another shot while Nyman was dropping strokes on the ninth, tenth and 16th to leave the Welsh pair just a stroke behind going down the par five last.
The Welshmen certainly piled the pressure on Nyman as the tournament came down to the 72nd hole, with both players giving themselves a chance for eagle after reaching the green in two.
Williams’s eagle putt came to rest about three feet from the hole, while Sullivan’s eagle effort stopped just 15 inches form the cup – leaving Nyman staring down his 12 foot birdie chance to prevent a play-off.
The Swede put all of his faith in the trusty putter that had served him magnificently throughout the week and was rewarded with a strike that was pure and true, and disappeared below ground to secure the title and the €18,400 winners cheque.
“I thought I had struck it a little bit too firm at first but it dropped in at the right edge and was a massive relief. I had started off the day with a huge putt – one of those ones when you would be happy to three putt usually!
“But after the first I didn’t give myself too many opportunities for birdies and Kyron and Craig played really well to come back at me. Then I made a stupid mistake on the 16th so was just one ahead coming down the last. But I made the putt for birdie and was delighted because I felt it would have been unfair to go into a play-off.
“I said to some of the guys after I signed my scorecard that I should really be taking my putter to the prize giving ceremony because it was very good to me, and Kyron said to me that I should be taking it to bed and sleeping with it!”
