Westwood’s Euro title drought goes on
LEE WESTWOOD’S wait for a first European Tour title since 2014 will continue after Romain Wattel won the KLM Open yesterday. Former world No1 Westwood finished as part of a six-way tie for third at 13 under, behind Frenchman Wattel and runner-up Austin Connelly, of Canada. It meant Wattel finally secured a win on the European Tour at the 187th time of asking as he held off the challenge of Kiradech Aphibarnrat. Wattel, who had not recorded a top-20 finish all season prior to ending his title drought at The Dutch in Spijk, Holland, was level with Thailand’s Aphibarnrat for much of the back nine. But his challenger found water twice in the last four holes, with both leading to double bogeys. That meant a par at the last was enough for the 26-year-old to secure victory with a 15-under total after a closing 69. ‘I came to this tournament, I was playing poorly,’ Wattel said. ‘Last week I struggled with my game. I am happy with the way I played all week. I’ve been putting really bad the last two years. ‘I never thought about the score, I just tried to play my best. I was just trying to be as high as I could on the leaderboard but it was very tight. I just tried to play my own game.’ Wattel had recorded 25 top-10 finishes in his previous 186 events without tasting victory, and surpassed overnight leader Aphibarnrat with three birdies in his first six holes. Aphibarnrat briefly led when he birdied the 14th but then faltered in the chase. Westwood never threatened during the final round, although he did birdie the last to sign for a 69.