European Open: The reaction was eerily similar: a fist-pumping, grinning, putter-pointing swagger, writes John O'Sullivan at The K Club.

At The K Club yesterday, Gary Evans didn't shout "that's for you, Mum" (as he had done at last year's British Open) when holing from 45 feet on the home green for eagle and a fourth-place finish (€144,350) in the Smurfit European Open.

Evans sheepishly conceded that it was only after his reaction to the eagle putt that it reminded him of his Muirfield antics. "Yeh, a little bit. The reaction did. I didn't think about it until I'd done it. It was great."

In last year's British Open Evans endeared himself to a nation when the traditional professional's mask was discarded in the emotion of the moment.

His second shot at the par-five 17th on that occasion disappeared into the crowd. Spectators joined in a frantic search that yielded four golf balls, none of which was his. He took a two-shot penalty, walked back 200 yards, hit his four wood onto the green before sinking a 50-foot putt for a stunning par five.

The 34-year-old is no stranger to emotional moments, not least receiving the news earlier this year that his young daughter Olivia, born with a hole in her heart, had successfully negotiated a life-saving operation. Evans knew that some day surgery would be required and that moment came at the Brompton Hospital, a pioneering procedure to boot.

He conceded that he wanted to kiss the doctors in the aftermath of the successful operation. "The fact that it has been a success does help but it was terrible because they are your babies and you want to look after them."

His form this season can best be described as patchy, three top 10 finishes (tied fourth at the Heineken Classic his best) in the first half of the season, giving way to four missed cuts in the last five tournaments and an uninspiring 78th in Paris.

He attributed his form this week to the comfort of his surroundings.

"I always stay out here (The K Club) and it gives you a chance to relax and not rush about with courtesy cars and sitting in traffic. They look after you very well here and I was able to practise when I wanted to and also had the benefit of having Ewen Murray, my coach, here all week. It was fantastic.

"I played really good today, gave myself a lot of chances but didn't make the most of it. It's nice to finish that way (eagle); it put a smile on my face. Fourth (place), that's very respectable."

In the last few months he has had one goal, to climb back up the Volvo Order of Merit and fourth place at The K Club is a decent way to kick start the last third of the season. "It has been a disappointing season so far so hopefully this is the start of (better) things to come."

He is confident that this week also represents a watershed in terms of his fortunes. "If I keep playing the way I have been and swinging the club nicely, keep my focus together, then it should come together." Inevitably after last year's exploits he'll be in demand in a fortnight's time when the European Tour heads for Royal St George's and the British Open. He already has his survival plan in place, aware that too much media attention would amount to an unwelcome distraction.

"It's a week where everyone wants a piece of you so it's a week where you have to turn off the mobile and find your own bit of solitude."