Ferguson Brilliantly Books Royal Troon Tee Time With BMW International Open Triumph

5 months ago by Comments Off on Ferguson Brilliantly Books Royal Troon Tee Time With BMW International Open Triumph

A highly-emotional Ewen Ferguson brilliantly booked an Open Championship tee time with victory in the BMW International Open in Munich.

Scottish-born Ferguson, who turned 28 on Saturday, was unchallenged over the final round posting a closing 68 to win by two shots at 18-under-par and collect a third DP World Tour success.

Victory in the Bavarian capital superbly secured his place in next week’s 152nd Open Championship field, and joining top-ranked Robert MacIntyre, Jack MacDonald and amateur Calum Scott at Royal Troon.

Indeed, it will be only Ferguson’s second major showing after making his major championship debut a year ago at Royal Birkdale.

The win also takes the Bearsden golfer to the new World No. 99 and a first into the world’s top-100 while Ferguson also joins two of the greats in Scottish golf in Sandy Lyle (1991) and Colin Montgomerie (1999) as winners of the BMW International Open in the 35th anniversary hosting of the event.

However, it’s not been an easy ride for the affable Scot who’s battled vertigo over the past few months but he was rock-solid over the four rounds on the host Munchen Eichenried course.

He said:  “Honestly, I can’t believe it and over the last four holes I felt like I was in a dream.  I just didn’t think it was happening.  I was hitting the ball so much further than usual.

“I just felt I wanted to do it for them … my dad, my mum, my sister and my brother at home.  I love them so much.  Every shot I played I had them in mind (teary eyed) all the time.

“It’s such a hard game. I have been moaning like mad the last two months while I’ve also been sick.  Though having the (medical) exemption has been a great weight off my shoulders.

“Yeah, I’m just so happy.  I can’t believe it”.

Ferguson headed into the final round of his 101th Tour event tied for the lead at 14-under and with it raining heavily, forcing officials to adopt a ‘preferred lie’ rule.

The Scotland-like conditions played into Ferguson’s lead when he pared the second hole and while soon falling back into a tie at the top, he again moved one clear by securing a 20th birdie of his week at the sixth and moving to 16-under.

Ferguson bogeyed the seventh but was back in front with a two-putt birdie at the ninth, and with the rain now stopped.

He parred the opening three holes over the back nine before moving three clear thanks to birdies at 13 and 14 while helped thanks to a Smith bogey at 14.

He parred the opening three holes over the back nine before moving three clear thanks to birdies at 13 and 14 while helped thanks to a Smith bogey at 14.

From thereon a Ferguson victory was never in doubt other than a fly landing on his ball ahead of his second shot into the final green.

Ferguson now joins Bob MacIntyre in this week’s Genesis Scottish Open as winners on both sides of ‘The Pond’ and also each headed next week to Royal Troon.

Ferguson said:  “To be teeing-up at Royal Troon in a championship everyone wants to play in, and I feel like I can do well there.  I have the Scottish Open this week so it’s just exciting times for me.

“Honestly though right now is the chance to think about my mum, my dad and my brother and sister”.

Fellow Scot Connor Syme returned to his early season good form posting a closing 67 to share fourth place on 14-under and also picking-up his fourth top-10 of the new season as the Scot strives still towards a maiden Tour win.

He said: “I am really pleased as after a strong start to the season that the last six events for me have been quite difficult.

“I just drove the ball so much better this week and gave myself a good chance.  It was the sort of feeling I wanted and while not quite enough it gave me a lot of confidence heading into the Scottish Open.

“Us Scots put a lot of hope and expectation heading into our national open, so to go into this coming week after a good, solid week here at the BMW is good to have going into the Scottish”.

Syme grabbed six birdies but due to a 7pm return flight back to Edinburgh reluctantly had to skip being on hand to congratulate Ferguson.

He said:  “I know Ewen also is on the 7pm flight, so do I hang around and wait   but probably I’ll leave him to this one (smiling)”.

 

 



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