Lee Westwood surrendered the British Masters title at The Belfry on Sunday when he lost to Spain's Gonzalo Fernandez-Castano at the third hole of a play-off.

Reigning champion Westwood was three shots clear with 10 holes to go but he was caught by Fernandez-Castano to force a play-off.

After each player had made a 10-footer to stay alive in the fading light, Westwood missed a 15-foot par putt on the next to give Fernandez-Castano the title and the 300,000 pounds first prize.

New Zealander Michael Campbell was third, two shots back on 10 under.

It was 27-year-old Fernandez-Castano's fourth Tour victory and takes his play-off record to a perfect 3-0.

Yet it was his first top 10 finish since the Wales Open at the start of June and he came into the week only 105th on the money list.

"I think it's probably the best of my four wins. My season was not going very well and I was starting to get worried," Fernandez-Castano said.

As for his decision to jump into the water after the final hole, with fellow Spanish players ready to throw him in, he added: "I think it was payback, especially (Pablo) Larrazabal.

"We threw him in at the French Open and I am sure he wanted to get his revenge.

"It was cold, but it just stank. It smelt terrible, as I do now."

Westwood's cheque for 200,000 pounds takes him from fourth to second on the European Order of Merit, but instead of being under 80,000 pounds behind Padraig Harrington the gap is more than twice that entering the last five weeks.

Last year's five-shot win in the same event remains Westwood's last success. He has now had 14 top 10s since then, including third place in the US Open in June.

"I just struggled with my swing all day," Westwood said. "I didn't feel under control at any point.

"I was pleased to be in a play-off as I felt I really hung in there.

"When 'Gonzo' chipped in at the 12th I think the writing was on the wall. I felt I am at the end of my tether and running on empty."

Westwood and Campbell had moved clear of the field with sparkling finishes to their third rounds when play resumed.

Campbell, having signed off with a birdie at the fifth in near-darkness last night, returned to make it four in a row and posted a 65.

But Westwood, whose round had begun with three bogeys, grabbed his second eagle in five holes thanks to a five-wood to four feet on the 538-yard third, then birdied the fifth and sixth for a 68.

They were both 10 under entering the closing 18 holes, with Jeev Milkha Singh and Fernandez-Castano next best on seven under.

It looked as if Westwood might have an easy afternoon when he went three clear after seven holes of the final round, but bogeying the ninth — he was inches from the water there — and three-putting the 10th for par meant there was more work to be done.

Lots more, as it turned out, after Fernandez-Castano chipped in for a dramatic par on the 12th after pushing his tee shot into the stream by the green.

He was still one behind at that point, but a pitch to four feet on the next brought him level and they could not be separated over the closing stretch — or on their next two visits to the 473-yard 18th.

But playing it for the fourth time in the day the crowd finally saw a winner.

AFP

RSS
Digg
de.li.cious
facebook