Former Ryder Cup player José Rivero justified his billing as one of the favourites to win this year’s European Seniors Tour Order of Merit by capturing the first title of the season, the DGM Barbados Open at Royal Westmoreland Golf Club.
The Spaniard beat
Current Ryder Cup Captain Ian Woosnam was in the gallery supporting Russell – a good friend and a member of his backroom team for this year’s event at The K Club,
In the end it was to no avail, as Russell could only make par to Rivero’s birdie three as the pair completed their fourth visit to the treacherous 18th.
"To win for the first time as a senior is very, very good. I did not play that well during my round today, but finished one under. Luckily I played much better in the play-off," commented Rivero.
Earlier, the 18th had been Rivero’s undoing as he finished with a five to drop back into a tie with Russell on nine under par 207.
He had a second chance to seal the title but missed a short putt on the pair’s second visit to the 18th in the play-off, before eventually securing victory at the third time of asking when he holed for birdie from 15 feet and Russell missed with his effort from eight feet.
It was Rivero’s maiden title on the European Seniors Tour and will probably not be his last given his impressive record since turning 50 last September. The four-time European Tour winner has now finished first-second-second-third-sixth in his five events so far.
Russell, meanwhile, has had five second places since April 2005.
Canadian Bruce Heuchan bogeyed the last hole in regulation to finish in third place on eight under par 208, followed a stroke further back by Eduardo Romero of
Denis O’Sullivan, winner of the 2005 DGM Barbados Open and
