Frenchman Gregory Bourdy has naturally gone straight to the top of the 2014 European Ryder Cup points table with his remarkable Wales Open victory.
The ISPS Handa Wales Open is the first in a 12-month long Gleneagles qualifying period.
The 31-year old popular Bordeaux-born Bourdy birdied his closing three holes, stating with a curling 40-footer from off the green at the 16th and then draining a 10-footer on the final green.
Bourdy went into the last day trailing three behind third round leader, Peter Uihlein of the US, but then got to within one of the Florida golfer when he holed a bunker shot for eagle at the second hole. He drew level with the struggling Florida golfer with a birdie at the ninth.
The pair stayed tied at the top right up until the 17th where Uihlein had matched the Frenchman with a second straight birdie. But after splitting the fairway at the 18th, Uihlein then three-putted the green for bogey to hand Bourdy a two shot success.
It is Bourdy’s first victory in four years since www.golfbytourmiss.com were on hand to report on his 2009 UBS Hong Kong Open triumph.
Gregory Bourdy birdies his closing three holes to end a four-year victory drought. (Photo – David Lloyd/www.golffile.ie)
The Frenchman said: “It was an amazing round. I started great with an eagle on the second, which gave me a lot of confidence for the rest of the round.
“Unfortunately I made two bogeys on 13 and 14, so I knew I needed some birdies and to finish with three in a row was amazing.
“I’m going to remember this finish for a long time. A lot of great moments have taken place here during The Ryder Cup, and I was thinking about that on the 18th hole when I was walking up the fairway. So I’m very proud to win this trophy at Celtic Manor.”
Uihlein was naturally disappointed to have missed out on securing his second European Tour title, but was magnanimous in defeat.
He said: “At the end of the day, I put myself in with a chance with the birdies at 15 and 17. I didn’t expect Grégory to birdie the last three holes. That’s just great golf, so hats off to him.”
