England’s Chris Wood has brilliantly captured a first ever Race to Dubai title holing a 10-foot putt for eagle at the last hole to win the 2013 Commercial Bank Qatar Masters in Doha.
It has taken the 25-year old 116 Tour events to finally taste success and in the process deny Spain’s Sergio Garcia and South African George Coetzee the gleaming ‘Mother of Pearl’ victory trophy.
Wood first burst onto the world stage in finishing third as an amateur in the 2009 Open Championship at Turnberry.
England’s Chris Wood punches the air after winning the Commercial Bank Qatar Masters. (Photo – Eoin Clarke/www.golffile.ie)
He immediately turned pro and went close to a first pro victory when leading going into the last day of the 2010 BMW PGA Championship by two shots but lost by four to fellow Brit Simon Khan.
A year later Woods led by four shots going into the fourth day of the Iberdrola Open in Majorca but lost by three to Darren Clarke who some months later captured The Open.
It looked like history would again be cruel to Wood as he enjoyed a three shot leading cushion here in Doha with a day to play but that had gone with a double bogey at the third hole.
But all credit to the Bristol golfer as he bounced back with two birdies at eight and nine before his dramatic close to win a first Race to Dubai title in playing a superb second shot into the 18th and then holing the 10-foot eagle putt.
Garcia (66) and Coetzee (65) looked all set to fight out play-off after finishing tied on 17-under par but they did not count on Wood’s dramatic closing out of the event.
“It feels good to pick up the trophy and I tell you, I’ve seen a few mates qualify for these big end of year events and I’ve just been waiting patiently for my turn and fortunately it’s come today,” said Wood.
“I just feel like I have been due to win for a couple of years and this is an enormous weight lifted off my shoulder today.
“I feel now also that with this win I can go on and win more now.”
Wood, who burst onto the world stage in finishing third in the 2009 Open Championship at Turnberry, collected a first prize of Euro 311,000
And Wood becomes the first English-born golfer to win the event sine its inception in 1998.
Coetzee, who had also been seeking his maiden Tour win, was gracious in defeat.
“I’m not disappointed as Chris deserves it,” said the South African.
“He did well and he played well all week, and it’s always good if you can hold the lead on the final day because it’s very difficult.
“I thought to myself, all I have to do is get past 15 and make him shoot a number, and luckily for him he did.
“I had come off the course saying it’s quite funny that it’s me and Wood going up against each other. He’s been playing well over the last couple of years and he definitely deserves this win.”
