Larrazabal’s blistering finish inspired by Woods

PABLO LARRAZABAL summoned the spirit of Tiger Woods in an amazing turnaround to win the Alfred Dunhill Championship at Leopard Creek Country Club, South Africa. The Spaniard (right), who had a final round 75 for an eight-under-par total, began the day three shots clear, but struggled with blisters on his feet and swing problems. He removed his shoes and threw a club in frustration after a hook down the left from the ninth tee, where he carded one of six bogeys as well as a double. Those eight dropped shots saw the 36-year-old fall three off the pace at one stage, but he regrouped and three birdies in his last four holes sealed victory.

Larrazabal, who revealed that Woods’ victory at the 2008 US Open while suffering from a fractured tibia and damaged cruciate ligament had motivated him to continue, said: ‘I didn’t think I was going to play today. I have a blister on my toe, but I thought: “If Tiger can win a US Open with a broken leg...”.’ Larrazabal bogeyed the first, third and fifth to hand Wil Besseling a share of the lead and, despite making a birdie at the sixth, found water for the third day running at the seventh and double bogeyed. Further dropped shots at the eighth and ninth left a fifth European Tour title in doubt as he turned in 41 to trail Besseling by two. After a birdie at the 11th, the Spaniard had another hook at the 13th and bogeyed. But, with Besseling having a double bogey at the 14th, he stayed within touching distance. Both birdied the 15th and Larrazabal rolled in a 15-footer at the next to join the Dutchman and Sweden’s Joel Sjoholm in the lead. Sjoholm could not birdie the par-five last and, when Besseling’s second nestled on rocks behind the green to lead to a bogey, Larrazabal was left with a tap-in birdie to seal victory. Sjoholm was second on seven under, with Besseling and South Africans Charl Schwartzel and Branden Grace a shot further back in third. Scotland’s Connor Syme finished 11th on two-under, with compatriot Calum Hill a shot further back.