Peter O’Malley became the fourth Australian winner of the Compass Group English Open after producing another late surge to deprive Raphaël Jacquelin of an historic second successive victory for France at the Marriott Forest of Arden Hotel.
The 35 year old, who summoned up one of the most remarkable back nines in the history of The European Tour to capture the Scottish Open in 1992, covered the demanding inward nine in 31 strokes to shoot a six under par 66 for a total of 275, 13 under par.
That enabled O’Malley to parry the thrust of the Frenchman, who came agonisingly close to forcing a play-off until bogeying the last for a round of 70 and total of 276. In the process, the man from Sydney completed the biggest last round comeback of the year, having been five behind going into the last day.
Adam Scott, the Australian who might have been expected to figure on the winner’s rostrum after leading for the first three rounds, slipped back with a one over par 73 to take outright third on 277 with South African Jean Hugo fourth on 279.
O’Malley is always remembered for his closing salvo at Gleneagles in 1992, when he played the last five holes in seven under par to win his maiden title. Nine years on, he trailed both Jacquelin and Scott going into the back nine, but holed from 25 feet for a birdie at the tenth, from 15 feet at the 11th and, crucially, from 60 feet for an eagle at the 12th.
Scott, two ahead overnight, dropped away with three bogeys in four holes early in the final round while Hugo’s challenge also stalled with bogeys at the first and fifth. All the while O’Malley kept himself in contention before unleashing that back nine blitz to claim his third title.
“I guess I was thinking about Gleneagles after I finished” he admitted. “On that occasion I didn’t see anyone else finish because I was told non-one could beat but, but I was watching this time. Certainly my run from the eighth to the 14th was similar golf to that tournament.”
O’Malley won 223,373 euro (£133,330) and moved from 26th position to eighth in the Volvo Order of Merit with 471,274 euro (£281,300).
Scott, still only 20 but a rising star in the game, commented: “I just played badly today. I didn’t make any putts. It is disappointing but I am sure I will have another chance.” Indeed, Scott affirmed his affinity for The European Tour when he said: “I find myself much more relaxed and comfortable in this environment over here and that is probably why I play better.
“I think it’s friendlier here, absolutely. I think that is why I feel more comfortable because to be 20 year olds and travelling around in a game without too many 20 year olds it’s hard to be accepted but everyone has been very kind to me. It’s not necessarily easier to win here – the competition at the top level is the same.”
Jacquelin, hoping to follow Thomas Levet into the winner’s circle a week after his countryman won the Victor Chandler British Masters, admitted he caught his three iron “a bit fat” at the 72nd hole and his bunker shot left him a tough ten footer to force a play-off. He missed, but while O’Malley enjoyed the accolades he said: “I enjoyed being in contention very much. If someone had said at the start of the week that I would be second then I would have been very happy.”
Defending champion Darren Clarke overcome a sticky start to shoot 67-68 at the weekend for a seven under par total of 281 and a share of fifth place with Lee Westwood, who closed 68-69. Both players head for the US Open with renewed confidence from the weekend work. However Marriott Forest of Arden specialist Colin Montgomerie had to withdraw in the second round with a back injury.
