American Stewart Cink was celebrating for the second time in a week after securing a four stroke victory in the World Golf Championships – NEC Invitational just six days after being announced as one of Hal Sutton’s wild cards for The 35th Ryder Cup Matches at Oakland Hills Country Club.
Cink birdied the last for a level par 70 and 11 under par total of 269 to finish four ahead of World Number One Tiger Woods, who was chasing his fourth victory Firestone Country Club, Akron, Ohio, in the space of five years, and South African Rory Sabbatini.
Argentina’s Angel Cabrera finished the week as the leading European Tour Member in joint fourth place with Davis Love III on six under par, the Argentine shooting a closing two under par 68.
Germany’s Alex Cejka and England’s Lee Westwood also finished in the top ten in joint ninth place at four under par after rounds of 66 and 69 respectively while defending champion Darren Clarke closed with a 68 to finish a further stroke back at three under par 277 in joint 14th place.
From a European standpoint much of the focus was on the forthcoming Ryder Cup Matches and the race to qualify. The first five players from the World Points List were confirmed after the WGC – NEC Invitational with Westwood holding on to the last qualifying place.
Fellow Englishman Luke Donald threatened to overtake him as the final round unfolded. Needing to finish second to overtake Westwood, Donald put himself in the frame with a third round 65 and when he birdied two of the first seven holes he had climbed into a share of second place. But four dropped shots in the next five holes put paid to his chances to earning automatic qualification for The 35th Ryder Cup Matches and he must now hope for a wild card from Captain Bernhard Langer if he is to make his Ryder Cup debut this year.
He eventually finished with a two over par 72 to finish alongside fellow Englishman Paul Casey and Spain’s Sergio Garcia on two under par, Garcia confirming his place in The European Team and Casey on course to join him.
Swede Fredrik Jacobson, Westwood’s closest challenger in the World Points List, was also unable to make up the necessary ground and eventually finished joint 32nd after a closing 74 left him on three over par 283.
Frenchman Thomas Levet is also certain of a Ryder Cup debut next month as he cannot be knocked out of the European Points List with just one event, namely the BMW International Open, remaining. He will become only the second Frenchman after Jean Van de Velde to play in The Ryder Cup Matches.
Casey strengthened his place in the European Points List and looks certain to make the European Team bound for Detroit. David Howell and Ian Poulter, the next two in line in the qualifying table, were not in action at Akron but maintained their positions although tenth placed Paul McGinley closed the gap to ensure the BMW International Open will provide a nail-biting climax to the Ryder Cup points race which started 12 months ago.
But the week belonged to Cink who led from the outset after an opening seven under par 63. It was his first victory on The European Tour International Schedule but fourth on the US PGA Tour and second this year after his earlier triumph in the MCI Heritage. In the process he became the 46th American to win on The European Tour.
He was also the third wire-to-wire winner on The 2004 European Tour International Schedule following Ernie Els (Heineken Classic) and Miles Tunnicliff (Diageo Championship at Gleneagles).
