England’s Oliver Wilson has returned to the European Tour in dramatic manner capturing a maiden Tour title with success in the Alfred Dunhill Links Championship at St. Andrews.
Wilson shot a final round 70 to win by a stroke on the Old Course with a 17-under par tally.
Prior to this week the 34-year old Wilson, and currently ranked 792 in the world, had finished second on nine occasions in the course of 227 Tour events.
Prior to this week the 34-year old Wilson had finished second on nine occasions in the course of 227 Tour events.
And after first committing to a Challenge Tour event in Italy carrying a first prize cheque of Euro 30,000 Wilson made the most of his invitation into the Dunhill walking away with a victor’s cheque for Euro 800,000.
Oliver Wilson ends a 227 European Tour winless drought to capture Alfred Dunhill Links Championship. (Photo – Stuart Adams/www.golftourimages.com)
“It’s all really hard to believe as I have dreamed of this moment many times in my career and in the circumstances it has happened I can’t believe it,” he said.
“So it’s a dream come true to win a tournament as St. Andrews because three, four weeks ago my career was looking pretty grim and it’s just one amazing what is possible playing professional golf as every week we have opportunities but for so long I have taken those opportunities.”
However Wilson admitted he endured a nightmare Saturday night tossing and turning and barely managing to sleep three hours.
“I was up early ‑‑ I was up about 3 o’clock, and you know, it’s one of those things that you’re in bed and you’re like, I want to let my mind wander,” he said.
“I want to think about what would happen if I wasn’t ‑‑ what tournaments I would get in and what I’m going to do next week and all of the good stuff.
“But I was like, do I or do I just ‑‑ I don’t know, I’ve never won a tournament. I’ve tried different approaches every one and nothing’s worked, so I didn’t really know. So I thought it was perfectly natural. I’m experienced enough, so I had a little moment and then for the next five hours, I was thinking about all sorts. Just trying to think about that and then sort of set a deadline and, right, stop that, think about other things. But my mind kept going back to the golf and my golf swing and how I was going to play around and what to expect.
Oliver Wilson gets his hands on a first Tour winning trophy. (Photo – Stuart Adams/www.golftourimages.com)
“So I kind of walked my way around the course and kind of won the tournament three times in my sleep last night and my thoughts. And I also went through the other routes and said, well, I’ve done it before ‑‑ I played well last year and frittered a way a tournament throughout the week and didn’t want that to happen again. Obviously couldn’t really afford to let it happen again. You know, finally fell asleep about 8.30, about ten minutes before my alarm went off.”
Wilson, who competed in the 2008 Ryder Cup at Valhalla, lost his Tour card three years ago and was competing this week on an invitation, went into the last round leading by three shots.
However Wilson found himself soon trailing after he bogeyed the fifth and it was not till a 16th hole birdie he went back into the lead.
Wilson’s cause was helped with World No. 1 Rory McIlroy, who was sharing the lead at the time, putted from off the green and into the infamous ‘Road Hole’ bunker at the 17th in taking bogey on route to a 68 and a share of second on 16-under par.
McIlroy had commenced his round in taking a double bogey when he ball spun back off the first green into the Swilcan Burn ahead of bouncing back with four straight birdies.
“I feel I cost myself the tournament in the space of 20 yards at the front of the green at the first and over at the Road Hole bunker with both not too far away from each other,” he said.
“They were the only two mistakes I made all day. But I still love this golf course and looking forward coming back here in July and defending The Open Championship.”
McIlroy will now take a well-earned break ahead of teeing up on October 14th Grand Slam of Golf in Bermuda ahead of his next Tour event and the October 30th starting BMW Masters in Shanghai and the opening event of the European Tour’s Final Four Series.
He ended tied with Scotland’s Richie Ramsay who also let slip a third Tour success after moving two clear of his rivals with birdies at 14 and 15 but then handing the shots back with bogeys at the 16th and 17th holes to shoot 67.
Also sharing second place was England’s Tommy Fleetwood who shot a round of 68.
