An emotional Thomas Björn won his eighth European Tour title when he captured The Daily Telegraph Dunlop Masters after a tense sudden-death play-off with England’s Brian Davis and David Howell at the Marriott Forest of Arden.
The leading trio finished the regulation 72 holes tied at six under par 282, one ahead of overnight leader Michael Campbell of New Zealand.
Davis was the first to exit the play-off when he bogeyed the par three 18th hole after missing the green left. Howell too missed the green but holed a testing eight footer to match Björn’s three.
But at the second time around, Howell again missed the green and, with Björn safely down in three, was unable to get up and down from sand to keep the contest alive.
It was a repeat of the 72nd hole where Howell, having moments earlier sensationally chipped in for eagle on the 17th to edge one clear, pushed his tee shot into the right bunker. Needing a three to win, his par effort pulled up just short.
Björn also made eagle on the 17th before parring the last for a 68 to set the clubhouse target. When he won moments later he claimed his first victory since the 2002 BMW International Open and earned him €417,753 (£283,330), lifting him to third in The European Tour Order of Merit.
"It's been a long time coming," said Björn. "I kept perfectly cool over the whole weekend and in the end it paid off. I don't think I've been as relaxed as I was over those two play-off holes.
“It has been a long time and hard work and there have been some tough times since I last won on The European Tour. This was important for me and it is nice to have that feeling again.”
For Howell, it was a disappointing end to the week. “All the stuff I have been working on with my swing just didn’t stand up to the pressure there at the end,” said the Ryder Cup star. “Simple as that. I got lucky there at the 17th. Poor swing with my second shot and managed to chip it in. Just needed one good swing on the last and just couldn’t do it.”
Davis was also equally disappointed not to have captured his first title on home soil after his closing 69, three under par.
“It was a real struggle today,” said the 30 year old. “The swing was all over the place. Didn’t have the speed on my putter all day and it was a real battle. I hung in there. But I had my chances today and just didn’t get the job done. But I have to be positive. I have been putting terrible the last few weeks so it was good to come in here putting half decent. I will take that onto the PGA after a week off. But obviously hugely disappointed not to win, especially at home.”
Campbell led by three strokes overnight but as the putts refused to drop on the front nine, his lead was gradually chipped away and he came up one short of the play –off.
A shot further back on four under par was another Dane in Soren Hansen who finished alongside Simon Khan and last week’s winner Steve Webster, who delighted his local supporters with another fine display.
It was also a great week for England’s Oliver Wilson, who celebrated his first European Tour event on home soil by winning a £33,000 Jaguar XJS for the nearest the pin on the 18th. His four iron shot finished a mere one foot, nine inches away from the hole to claim the prize.
“It was a smooth four iron,” said Wilson, a Challenge Tour graduate from last year. “It worked out nicely. I was not in the best frame of mind on the 18th tee. I had struggled all day and bogeyed the 17th which was disappointing. But I had been telling myself I was going to win it all week. I set my sights on it at the start of the week and it was a lovely way to finish.”
