59…Fisher feels the magic after his historic round
WHEN the moment of history came yesterday on the final green at the Dom Pedro Victoria course, Oli Fisher did not quite know how to celebrate.
There was half a fist pump, a glazed smile, a tip of the cap and handshakes all round. The manual for marking a 59 on the European Tour had not been written.
For 46 years golfers have been trying. In that time there were almost 700,000 rounds played on the European Tour, 19 of which yielded a 60. The magical 59 had remained elusive which, in a numbers game like golf, gave it near-mythical status.
And then, on a still September day in the Algarve, with the warm sun glinting on the lake at the Portugal Masters, along came Fisher with his 10 birdies, seven pars and an eagle, like a long-trousered Roger Bannister.
The round that brought a champagne shower could even have been a 58 if Fisher’s 40-foot birdie putt at the 18th had not slid 12 inches by. No matter. Best not to be greedy.
“It was in the back of my mind all day,” said the 30-year-old from Chingford. “I started the round really well with three birdies, and then managed to hole a bunker shot on the fifth, so I was five under through five. I got on to a run around 10, 11, 12, so then I was thinking 59 was on the cards.
“The big hole for me was 16 where I managed to hole a 20-footer for par. After that it was about hitting a couple of good drives on 17 and 18. Thankfully I hit the fairways to give myself a chance.
“It’s a great feeling. It’s very different to a couple of years ago on this green when I was fighting to keep my Tour card. I had that in the back of my mind, thinking things could be worse. I tried to enjoy it and thankfully I got over the line.”
Conditions were perfect but Fisher’s staggering performance – after an anonymous Thursday had left him eyeing what could have been a fourth missed cut in his past five events – was still freakish.
He played a par-71 course in 12 under – four shots lower than anyone else – to move from 93rd in the field to a share of the lead.
A contemporary of Rory McIlroy in his amateur days, Fisher was tipped to reach similar heights and earned his card at 18. But it never quite happened for him.
He has spent the past decade as a member of the Tour’s rank and file, winning just once at the 2011 Czech Open. For the world No 287, it has been a career in the shadows. Until yesterday.
McIlroy has gone on to achieve a great deal with his four Major victories and Ryder Cups, but he will never be the first man to shoot 59 on the European Tour.
The achievement sent shockwaves all the way to America, where world No1 Justin Rose received the news from the Europe Ryder Cup team’s WhatsApp group chat.
“It’s cool and all congratulations to Oli,” said Rose. “I woke up here in Atlanta and all the boys were talking about it, so I flicked on the Golf Channel and watched him into the last. “A 59 was always going to happen and I am surprised – given it has happened eight times on the PGA and Jim Furyk has shot a 58 along with being one of those to shoot a 59 – it has taken this long.
“I am so pleased for Oli. He’s very popular on Tour and we’re all very happy for him.”