STEADY EDDIE
Pepperell lands his first tour crown at the 126th attempt
IT’S only 15 months ago that Eddie Pepperell lost his European Tour card and was seemingly in grave danger of going down as a major talent unfulfilled.
Since then, the 27-year-old has shown plenty of character to go along with his obvious talent and yesterday he notched another landmark in his impressive resurgence by claiming his first victory on tour at the 126th attempt.
Pepperell was made to sweat during a compelling duel with fellow Englishman Oliver Fisher before claiming the Qatar Masters by a stroke.
‘What do I think about that? Relief, more than anything – and the need for a large glass or wine,’ he said.
Plenty start to feel sorry for themselves when they lose their tour privileges but Pepperell immediately set about making the long journey back. Last year, he was the only player who earned a card from the qualifying school to finish in the top 60 in the Race to Dubai. In yesterday’s final round it looked as if the victory margin might be a comfortable one until 29-year-old Fisher, seeking only his second victory himself, finished with birdies at the 16th and 17th. Pepperell left himself with an awkward third shot to the par-five 18th from heavy rough. Here the value of a top caddie was shown.
Pepperell wanted to thrash a wedge, but bagman Mick Doran advised that he hit a nine iron instead. That proved the perfect call and two putts from 20ft was good enough as Fisher narrowly missed from 12ft for a third birdie in a row to force a play-off.
In Thailand, on the women’s LPGA Tour, Jessica Korda pulled off a remarkable fourstroke success over fellow American Lexi Thompson.
The daughter of former Czech tennis player Petr, she had her nose and jaw broken in five places in December to correct an overbite problem. After five weeks spent eating via a syringe, this was her first tournament back – one she completed with 27 screws in place to help the bones reset.
In Florida at the Honda Classic, Rory McIlroy ended a miserable three-week run on the PGA Tour with a final round 72, featuring a quadruple bogey seven at the 17th.
Tiger Woods finished level par for his best finish in an official PGA Tour event since August 2015.
The 14-time major winner recorded a level-par score in Florida, despite a double bogey at the 15th hole and bogey at 16 in his final round, to finish 12th.
Playing behind, Englishman Tommy Fleetwood was in the hunt for his first PGA Tour title. Two birdies at the seventh and eighth put him into a four-way tie for the lead with Justin Thomas, Webb Simpson and Alex Noren.