What started as a potential three-horse race effectively ended just after the turn as Trevor Fisher Jnr streaked clear before galloping home over the closing holes en route to the Africa Open title in East London yesterday.
The Johannesburg-born and based Fisher had closed the deal long before he lined up a 40-foot birdie on the last but signed and sealed the victory in style by draining the putt to take him to 24-under, five shots clear of England’s Matt Ford.
The putt on the last capped a phenomenal weekend in which Fisher completed the course in 17-under in often testing conditions.
By winning the Africa Open Fisher maintained a South African monopoly of the tournament.
Fisher follows Major-winning compatriots Retief Goosen, Charl Schwartzel and Louis Oosthuizen, plus Shane Norris, Darren Fichardt and Thomas Aiken as Africa Open champions.
“When I got into the car this (yesterday) morning Bruce Springsteen was playing. I think it was ‘I’m on fire’. Everything felt good.
“Given the history of the tournament I knew it was my time. Three or four years ago I shot 14-under after two days but lost to Charl Schwartzel.
“I also lost to Charl in the SA Amateur on the last hole here.
“My dad (a former professional who passed away two years ago) came to watch me here when I was leading on the last day. It brings back so many memories.”
Fisher Snr instilled values of which junior still has a firm grip.
“I don’t want to define myself through my golf,” said yesterday’s winner.
It was his first European Tour international schedule victory in 45 attempts and brought peace of mind as well as a fat cheque.
He has European Tour exemption until the end of next year and bagged close on R2.2-million.
Final round rival Ford didn’t do much wrong other than failing to keep up with his playing partner.
Ford bogeyed the ninth, in an otherwise creditable final round.
Spaniards Jorge Campillo (66) and Eduardo de la Riva (66) and Dane Morten Madsen (66) shared third place.
By the time Fisher went four clear when he birdied the 10th, he looked to have one hand on the trophy.
He did, however, have a few minor scares on the opening nine. He hit his tee shot way right on the fourth but scrambled well, placing his approach within a few feet of the hole.
The Modderfontein professional made par to stay two clear after Ford missed a golden opportunity by narrowly missing his birdie attempt.
Fisher wobbled again on the next hole but this time there was no Houdini act as he dropped a shot – the only blot on his final round card.
He, however, showed great mental fortitude when he sank a 20-plus footer to save par on the 11th.
Fisher Jnr’s victory elevates him from 271st in the world rankings to inside the top 150.
Earlier in the final round Europe’s newly installed Ryder Cup captain Darren Clarke started the day seemingly hell bent on taking in as much as the course has to offer. He went the long way around the first where he carded a 10 but incredibly South Africa’s Darren Fichardt suffered the same misfortune at the fifth. — Additional reporting by AFP
SA keeps firm grip on Africa Open title
The Johannesburg-born and based Fisher had closed the deal long before he lined up a 40-foot birdie on the last but signed and sealed the victory in style by draining the putt to take him to 24-under, five shots clear of England’s Matt Ford.
The putt on the last capped a phenomenal weekend in which Fisher completed the course in 17-under in often testing conditions.
By winning the Africa Open Fisher maintained a South African monopoly of the tournament.
Fisher follows Major-winning compatriots Retief Goosen, Charl Schwartzel and Louis Oosthuizen, plus Shane Norris, Darren Fichardt and Thomas Aiken as Africa Open champions.
“When I got into the car this (yesterday) morning Bruce Springsteen was playing. I think it was ‘I’m on fire’. Everything felt good.
“Given the history of the tournament I knew it was my time. Three or four years ago I shot 14-under after two days but lost to Charl Schwartzel.
“I also lost to Charl in the SA Amateur on the last hole here.
“My dad (a former professional who passed away two years ago) came to watch me here when I was leading on the last day. It brings back so many memories.”
Fisher Snr instilled values of which junior still has a firm grip.
“I don’t want to define myself through my golf,” said yesterday’s winner.
It was his first European Tour international schedule victory in 45 attempts and brought peace of mind as well as a fat cheque.
He has European Tour exemption until the end of next year and bagged close on R2.2-million.
Final round rival Ford didn’t do much wrong other than failing to keep up with his playing partner.
Ford bogeyed the ninth, in an otherwise creditable final round.
Spaniards Jorge Campillo (66) and Eduardo de la Riva (66) and Dane Morten Madsen (66) shared third place.
By the time Fisher went four clear when he birdied the 10th, he looked to have one hand on the trophy.
He did, however, have a few minor scares on the opening nine. He hit his tee shot way right on the fourth but scrambled well, placing his approach within a few feet of the hole.
The Modderfontein professional made par to stay two clear after Ford missed a golden opportunity by narrowly missing his birdie attempt.
Fisher wobbled again on the next hole but this time there was no Houdini act as he dropped a shot – the only blot on his final round card.
He, however, showed great mental fortitude when he sank a 20-plus footer to save par on the 11th.
Fisher Jnr’s victory elevates him from 271st in the world rankings to inside the top 150.
Earlier in the final round Europe’s newly installed Ryder Cup captain Darren Clarke started the day seemingly hell bent on taking in as much as the course has to offer. He went the long way around the first where he carded a 10 but incredibly South Africa’s Darren Fichardt suffered the same misfortune at the fifth. — Additional reporting by AFP
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