Lanner, who won in Madeira in 1994 but then lost his card two seasons ago, was overcome by emotion as he played a superb bunker recovery at the 72nd hole to edge out New Zealander Stephen Scahill by one shot.
As he tapped in a two foot putt for a closing round of 73 and 11-under-par total of 277, several of the close-knit Swedish golfing community dashed onto the green and tossed Lanner high in the air several times. “We Swedes are a pretty close bunch and we usually root for each other, so it was good for them to throw me in the air”, admitted Lanner. “They know what it means for me to pull this off”.
Lanner started the final round lying second to Scahill, the 28-year-old from Wellington who had set the tournament alight on Friday.
Scahill became the third player in four weeks on the European Tour to shoot a round of 61 following Lee Westwood at Gut Kaden and Greg Chalmers at Marriott Hanbury Manor. England’s David Tapping led after a first round 66, but Scahill found himself out in front by three strokes from Lanner and Thomas Gögele on 133 thanks to his round containing ten birdies, an eagle and just a solitary bogey. Lanner shot a 68 on Saturday with Scahill carding a 69 to hold a two shot advantage, while England’s Andy Beal burst into contention with a 67 to be three off the pace.
On the final day, Lanner delivered a round not dissimilar to Nick Faldo’s closing effort at Muirfield in the 1987 Open when he churned out 18 successive pars. In Madeira, Lanner managed 17 pars with one blemish at the 13th. He said: “I thought about Faldo parring every hole when he won the Open, but then I promptly made my only bogey!”
Beal birdied the 16th while Scahill bogeyed, leaving Lanner on 11-under-par and his playing partner on 10 under at the last. All three failed to hit the green in regulation, but Lanner put the issue beyond doubt by blasting from a front bunker to two feet.
Scahill made a fine recovery from the back to save par and take second place with Beal bogeying and finishing third. “It was neck and neck but to bogey the 16th after having a good chance to make a birdie was very disappointing,” said the New Zealander, who earned £33,330.
But it was Lanner’s day and the popular Swede collected his £50,000 cheque and an exemption into the new Millennium. He added: “I will remember that bunker shot at the last for the rest of my life.
“This feels like getting my job back and I will always have sweet memories of this win. I won it. I played well and kept a cool head. Now it will be nice to take a week or two off and get back on Tour.”
