Springsteen lights fire for Fisher
EAST LONDON: Trevor Fisher Jnr has in the past few years come tantalisingly close, but not close enough, to landing a big win in one of the European Tour events held in South Africa each summer.
But the Africa Open which ended at East London Golf Club yesterday was one that didn’t get away as this sweetswinging 35-year-old brilliantly reeled in nine birdies in the final round on his way to an eight-under-par 64, a 24-under 264 aggregate and victory by five over second-placed Matt Ford of England.
Fisher posted a nine-underpar 63 in Saturday’s third round which meant he was 17 under for the weekend – an amazing sub-par blitz which earned him the equivalent of R2,2-million.
“I just felt today was my time because I’ve come close here before, and I was leading in 2010 only for Charl Schwartzel to eventually win,” said Fisher. “When I got in the car this morning to come to the course Bruce Springsteen was playing – it could have been ‘I’m on Fire’ – and it kind of relaxed me and put me in a good space. And that’s how I felt out on the golf course; nothing fazed me, I hit the ball well, I made some great saves from the bunkers, and I putted well.”
‘I’m on Fire’, then, kind of felt appropriate for him.
Fisher lost his professional golfer father, Trevor Fisher Snr, to cancer two years back and after lifting the trophy yesterday his son paid tribute to his dad “I thought about him the whole week when I was out there on the course. He always told me to breathe slowly and easily and just enjoy the ride, and that’s what I did.”
The South African started the day with a two-shot lead over playing partner Ford and each man made four birdies in the first eight holes, with “Fish” dropping the only shot in this period, at the short par4 fifth. Ford, putting exceptionally well, had rolled in three 15footers at this stage and when the pair arrived on the tee at the par-4 ninth, the toughest hole on the course, only one shot separated the two players.
But Fisher, one of the best long-iron players around, rifled a two-iron off the tee and followed it up with a brilliant four-iron approach to set up a birdie. “I absolutely flushed that four-iron and it was probably the shot of the week for me,” he said. Ford, meanwhile, missed the green in regulation and then failed to convert a short par putt. It had been an enthralling battle up to this juncture but the birdie-bogey two-shot swing was the turning point and Fisher just got stronger as the round progressed.
He birdied three of the last four holes, rolling in a 40-footer across the green at the par-4 18th for a three. That birdie also meant he didn’t drop a single shot on the back nine all week. Ford didn’t play at all badly himself, posting a 67 but the South African was just too good on the day and the win means he is now exempt, for the first time, on the European Tour until the end of 2016 – something he can’t put a price on as this has been a longtime goal and dream.
Spanish duo Eduardo de la Riva and Jorge Campillo and Denmark’s Morten Orum Madsen tied for third on 272.
The Africa Open was first played for in 2008 and became part of the European Tour in 2010 and Fisher’s victory means the trophy remains in South African hands as an overseas player has never won the tournament.
Now the European Tour awaits for Fisher. “I’ve tried so long to get that card and this is a massive step in my career,” said Fisher.
“It’s where us golfers want to be,” added the player who won last season's Investec Cup to earn a R3,5-million bonus, and has been in the top 10 on the Sunshine Tour Order of Merit for the past four seasons. Here is a golfer going places.