FROM THE DAILY TELEGRAPH WEBSITE
By ALASTAIR REID, at Royal Birkdale
Mark Wiebe emerged from the shadows, in every sense, to take victory in the Senior Open Championship at Royal Birkdale on Monday morning, pipping Bernhard Langer to the title at the fifth extra hole of a sudden-death play-off.
Mark Wiebe with the Senior Open Championship trophy at Royal Birkdale Photo: ACTION IMAGES
Wiebe, 55, an Oregonian with just two US PGA Tour wins to his name, struck when Langer bogeyed the 18th after leaving his approach short.
The pair had played the first two holes of their play-off the previous evening, but fading light ended play and they were obliged to return to the course at 8am, the first time in its 27-year history that the tournament had gone into a fifth day.
On the first hole on Monday, Langer passed over a golden chance to clinch victory when he missed a 12-foot birdie putt.
However, the German, a two-time Masters champion, said that the critical error had come on Sunday evening when, after two lengthy rain delays, he wasted a two-shot lead by double-bogeying the 72nd hole after failing to escape from a greenside bunker.
"It really was my tournament to win or lose coming down 18," said 55-year-old Florida-based Langer.
"In the play-off anybody can win. It comes down to one good shot or one bad shot. And that's what happened. Mark is a very deserving champion."
Wiebe, who had been struggling with a back problem ahead of the tournament, had earned his play-off place with a superb final round of 66. His victory earns him a place in next year's Open Championship at Hoylake, as well as a winner's cheque of £207,000, but immediately he was looking forward to relaxing.
"I'm a little tired," Wiebe admitted. "I tried to play the play-off like I was playing the tournament. I have never been in a play-off in a major championship either. I just tried to play the golf course as good as I could.
"I'm glad it's over, and I'm honoured. I just was luckier today and last night than Bernie, I guess. I think it's always better for both players had there been a birdie to win the play-off instead of a bogey."
It was the second year in succession that Langer had surrendered a 54-hole lead in the Senior Open. On the Ailsa Course in Turnberry, he led by one going into the final day, but finished a long way down the
leaderboard as Fred Couples surged to victory. However, Langer said he could take confidence from the way he had played at Birkdale.
Langer said: "What I'll take away from this is my tremendous ball-striking. I really drove the ball well this week, hit a lot of good iron shots and thought I played pretty smart – except for the 72nd hole. Otherwise, I played some of the best golf of my whole life."
Wiebe, who had been struggling with a back problem ahead of the tournament, had earned his play-off place with a superb final round of 66. His victory earns him a place in next year's Open Championship at Hoylake, as well as a winner's cheque of £207,000, but immediately he was looking forward to relaxing.
"I'm a little tired," Wiebe admitted. "I tried to play the play-off like I was playing the tournament. I have never been in a play-off in a major championship either. I just tried to play the golf course as good as I could.
"I'm glad it's over, and I'm honoured. I just was luckier today and last night than Bernie, I guess. I think it's always better for both players had there been a birdie to win the play-off instead of a bogey."
It was the second year in succession that Langer had surrendered a 54-hole lead in the Senior Open. On the Ailsa Course in Turnberry, he led by one going into the final day, but finished a long way down the
leaderboard as Fred Couples surged to victory. However, Langer said he could take confidence from the way he had played at Birkdale.
Langer said: "What I'll take away from this is my tremendous ball-striking. I really drove the ball well this week, hit a lot of good iron shots and thought I played pretty smart – except for the 72nd hole. Otherwise, I played some of the best golf of my whole life."
Published by scottishgolfview.com
