Jarmo Sandelin claimed his second title of the season and secured a spot in Europe's Ryder Cup side by winning a sudden death playoff in the German Open yesterday. The Swede held his nerve to make par at the first extra hole to beat South Africa's Retief Goosen, who bogeyed the 18th twice in 20 minutes to throw away the victory.
Sandelin, who had finished tied on 14-under-par 274 with Goosen, pocketed the winner's cheque for £120,000 and climbed to third in the Ryder Cup table, making certain he will be in Mark James' side to face the United States at Brookline, Boston, in September.
The 32-year-old appeared to have let the win slip from his grasp at the Sporting Club Berlin when he fluffed a chip on the 17th to hand the lead to Goosen, who had made three consecutive birdies from the 14th.
But there was still another twist to come on the 18th when it was Goosen's turn to miss a simple chance of glory.
The French Open winner found the greenside bunker with his approach but played a superb recovery to three feet. Sandelin then bravely holed from 10 ft for a par to leave Goosen needing to tap-in to win.
It looked a formality, but the putt shaved the hole to give Sandelin, who won the Spanish Open earlier this season, a second chance that he ultimately took with a solid four on the first playoff hole.
Goosen had the consolation of a cheque for £80,000 for second place, although he missed the chance to reclaim top spot in the Order of Merit.
Padraig Harrington, who started the final round two shots behind Sandelin and Goosen, was unable to make up the ground despite a respectable 70 for 278, which left him in a share of sixth place for £21,428. Paul McGinley, whose weekend was undone by a 75 on Saturday, fired a final round 71 to finish on 285.
Sweden's Pierre Fulke finished third on 12-under.
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