STORM’S GLORY AGAINST RORY
NORTH EAST GOLFER GRAEME LANDS SOUTH AFRICAN OPEN WITH PLAY-OFF SUCCESS AGAINST MCILROY
North East golfer Graeme Storm was left speechless after pipping Rory McIlroy in a play-of to win the South African Open yesterday.
Eighty-three days after losing his European Tour card by 100 euros, Storm enjoyed only his second European Tour title – and his first since the French Open in 2007.
Storm, who was given a Tour card reprieve when Patrick Reed failed to play enough events to join the Tour, he made the most of his second coming in Johannesburg.
Starting the day three shots clear of the world number two, he almost buckled under the heat as McIlroy made five birdies in a final-round 68.
But the Northern Irishman’s bogey on the par-three 17th teed up a play-off which the Hartlepool man took.
He held his nerve to sink a close-range putt after McIlroy had finished the first time they went back up the 18th hole, but when McIlroy drove wildly the second time, he had a chance.
His first shot was not ideal either, though, following McIlroy into the rough, and back they went again.
The third time out, McIlroy’s second shot on the parfour was a poor one, falling short of the green, and a 45-foot putt from Storm that skipped just past allowed him to take a par.
And when McIlroy failed from seven feet, the title was Storm’s.
“I am speechless. It’s been incredible and I can’t quite believe it,” he said.
“This is a dream come true, especially after what happened to me last year with my card and everything.
“I really took a lot from that experience and told myself to try and grasp the opportunity of getting my livelihood back with both hands and I have done that this week.
“It’s an unbelievable feeling. I hung in there and didn’t play my best stuff, but I knew if I could hang in there that I might get my chance and thankfully it came.
“It really means everything to me to be in the winner’s circle again.
“I have been to hell and back to be honest with you. It’s been an absolute rollercoaster over the last year and a half - especially the end of last year.
“There was pressure but not the same pressure as trying to keep your European Tour card. That’s real pressure and something I don’t want to feel for a long time.”
Storm picked up £143,000 as a result of the victory and is now guaranteed to keep his Tour card as a tournament winner.