Winning by three shots, Spaniard Alvaro Quiros won his second European Tour title in Vilamoura on Sunday by winning the Portugal Masters.
Quiros posted a 19-under-par total, holding his nerves to see off the challenge of Robert Karlsson who ended up tying third place alongside Ross Fisher. The Swede had been bidding for a third straight win.
Paul Lawrie sunk a birdie putt on the 18th hole, to place the former Open champion into second spot.
However, the day belonged to Quiros who collected the biggest cheque of his career to date by winning £395,000.
The 25-year-old from Cadiz – had to finish his third round early on Sunday morning as a thunderstorm brought Saturday’s play to an early finish. Quiros only previous tour success was the Alfred Dunhill Championship in 2007.
Oliver Fisher improved his recent form in the Portugal Masters, finishing the tournament on 5 under par overall, having achieved a commendable round of 68 on Sunday, which was bettered only by 4 other competitors on the day.
Just making the cut after achieving par through Thursday’s +1 and Friday’s -1, the 20 year old from Essex produced a great round of golf on Sunday, with 6 birdies.
Fisher twice struggled on the 18th with double bogeys on Thursday and Saturday, however overall the back 9 provided him with 11 birdies over the 4 days.
Oliver Fisher Results
Round Scores = 73 – 71 – 71 – 68
Position = T38
Par = -5
Prize Money = €19,800
This week the European Tour visits Portugal for the third time in 2008 for the Portugal Masters.
Robert Karlsson will attempt to extend his lead at the top of the Order of Merit, and match a record set by Tiger Woods, as he chases his third consecutive European Tour victory this week having won the Mercedes-Benz Championship in Cologne and the Alfred Dunhill Links Championship at St Andrews.
Also playing on the Algarve is Lee Westwood who still believes he can win the race to finish the season as Europe’s No1 – nothing less than a top-three finish will do.
This week it is the turn of Oceânico Victoria Golf Course, one of Oceânico’s famous five championship golf courses in Vilamoura, to welcome some of the top names in world golf all competing for the €3,000,000 prize fund at the Portugal Masters.
Having made its debut as a European Tour venue last year, and the 2005 World Cup host, the Arnold Palmer design is flat and exposed, with fast and tricky greens.
Schwartzel earned a 3 shot victory
South African, Charl Schwartzel finished Sunday on a final round of 66 to beat Ricard Gonzalez by three shots and win the Madrid Masters.
It’s reported that Schwartzel spent most of the weekend suffering with flu symptoms, yet he managed to hold his game together superbly, with five birdies and not a single bogey yesterday he registered his third European Tour title.
Ricard Gonzalez ended three shots behind Schwartzel’s winning total of 19 under par, leaving Pablo Larrazavel a shot further behind in third place.
Schwartzel started the final day just one shot clear, but increased his lead over Gonzalez by making a birdie on two par-five holes on the front nine.
The South African produced an immaculate chip on the second of these long holes having initially landed some way wide of the green. It was a crucial blow to the Argentine’s hopes of a victory.
Schwartzel finished off that great chip with a three foot birdie on the green.
According to the Genworth Financial Statistics for the week, it showed that Schwartzel hit over 80% of greens in regulation, bettered only by Paul Lawrie. This consistency and accuracy provided a strong foundation for his win.
Oliver Fisher Stats
Did not attend.
The European Tour moves to Spain this week, with the Madrid Masters.
Club De Campo
The event is being played at Madrid’s Club de Campo, which last held the Tour in 2005.
Once short-listed to host the 1997 Ryder Cup, Club de Campo just lost out to Valderrama on Spain’s Costa del Sol.
All the holes are tree-lined and the greens are pretty small but with a generous width to the fairways, it makes the Club de Campo course a place where accuracy is required.
Robert Karlsson currently leads the 2008 European Order of Merit, but Belfry winner Gonzalo Fernandez-Castano will be looking for his first win on home soil.
Watch all four rounds of the Madrid Masters live on Sky Sports starts Thursday 9th from 11.30am.
The Alfred Dunhill Links Championship was won by Sweden’s Robert Karlsson who clinched victory at the first extra hole at St Andrews on Sunday.
Bagging his second European Tour success within a month with a birdie on the first after tying with Ross Fisher and Martin Kaymer on 10 under par.
Ross Fisher whacked his drive straight in the rough guarding the green, while Kaymer claimed a regulation par-four.
It was left to Ryder Cup player Karlsson to hole out from just three feet following a delightful shot to take home the £432,000 first prize.
Oliver Fisher started the Championship brightly going 2 under par on Thursday’s round, having made 5 birdies. However Ollie’s form couldn’t quite hold on the 3rd round, where he slipped to a double bogey on 16th hole, leaving him +5 for the day.
Oliver Fisher Results
Round Scores = 70 – 75 – 77 – Cut
Position = T71
Par = +6
Prize Money = 0
Alfred Dunhill Links Championship St Andrews, Carnoustie & Kingsbarns Fife, Scotland.
Past winners:
2001 – Paul Lawrie; 2002 – Padraig Harrington; 2003 – Lee Westwood; 2004 – Stephen Gallacher; 2005 – Colin Montgomerie; 2006 – Padraig Harrington; 2007 – Nick Dougherty.
The European tour enters the final straight this week with the champion of this event collecting half a million Euros.
Several big names to look out for include :
Ernie Els: The South African has only once finsihed lower then seventh In six appearances at the Links Championship.Padraig Harrington: Twice previous winner in 2002 & 2006.
Raphael Jacquelin: Average of 70.47 in his most recent 17 rounds in the event leaves us wondering if he can become the first non UK player to lift the trophy.
Justin Rose: Making a rare visit to Europe, to try and beat his 2nd place from last year. Should be full of confidence from his Ryder Cup exploits.
Henrik Stenson: Three top 10 finishes in his last five St Andrews visits.
Lee Westwood: Winner in 2003, and a strong possibilty of topping this year’s Order of Merit. An unlucky runner up at the Belfry last week.
Subscribe