It wasn't pleasant, ducking under an umbrella and braving fresh winds, with only the odd shaft of sunshine. But there were significant compensations for Lee Westwood in the retention of his Smurfit European Open crown here at The K Club yesterday, along with a record cheque for Stg£250,000.
Entering the final round a stroke behind Angel Cabrera, the 27-year-old Englishman shot a stunning 66 - only a stroke more than his corresponding effort of last year. It was sufficient to give him a one-stroke margin over the stubbornly determined Argentinian, who was runner-up in the Murphy's Irish Open 12 months ago.
For Westwood, it meant one of those glorious golfing days when brain, club and ball were working in splendid unison. "I was surprised the result was as close as it was, given the way I played," he said. "I felt comfortable right through, with the result that I hit a number of great shots and probably only two poor ones." For Cabrera, there was clearly no shame in defeat. "I played very well all week and eventually lost to one of the best players in the world," he said through an interpreter. "I thought 68 would be enough in this weather but he is a great competitor." The Argentinian, who has yet to achieve a breakthrough on tour, added with a brave smile: "One day soon I will win."
As the tournament wound to a thrilling climax, there were resonances of the inaugural event here in 1995 when Bernhard Langer eagled the 18th to win from Barry Lane in a play-off. The same challenge faced Per-Ulrik Johansson and Cabrera if they were to bring Westwood to sudden death.
Johansson, winner of this title in 1996 and 1997 was first to fall. In fact the Swede three-putted for a par, missing from no more than two-and-a-half feet. With wind assistance, Cabrera also reached the 537-yard finishing hole in two, but there was to be no repeat of the Langer exploit.
It was a wonderful effort by Westwood, not least for the fact that it almost mirrored his achievement of last year. On that occasion, he came here directly from winning the Dutch Open; this time there was a free week in between his victory in the European Grand Prix at Slaley Hall. In a perfect world, some meteorological editing would have been in order. Yet, in a perverse way, the squally showers served to highlight the extent to which the course has improved. "It proved how effective our greens' aeration has been," said delighted course superintentent, Gerry Byrne.
A different sort of editing would have enhanced the challenge of Darren Clarke, who was twice in water for two sixes - one of them a double-bogey - en route to a 71 and seventh place on his own. But it was a dismal day for Paul McGinley who squandered a challenging overnight position with a closing 76. Meanwhile Clarke, who was dramatically overhauled by Westwood in a challenge for this title last year, complained of tiredness and was looking forward to a break after he plays in the J P McManus International Pro-Am Classic, today and tomorrow. "It was a bit of a disappointing day, mainly because the break of the ball went against me," The favourite of last Thursday, Colin Montgomerie, tumbled out of sight, when two birdies in the last three holes succeeded only in getting him to three-under-par overall. And within 10 minutes of signing his card, he was in the air in one of the few remaining helicopters that was not in Limerick.
As it happened Montgomerie finished on the same score as fellow Scot, Paul Lawrie, who was actually seven strokes behind him when getting through on the qualifying limit of three over, on Friday evening. It meant that Lawrie covered the closing 36 holes in six under par, only a stroke more than the winner.
The performances of the 1998 champion Mathias Gronberg and his compatriot Johansson, emphasised the extent to which special venues tend to inspire special performances. Gronberg, who had missed three of his previous five cuts, including last week's Irish Open, shot five birdies in a bogey-free 67 to claim fourth place.
Johansson's resurgence was even more marked. While battling a mysterious virus, he came here having missed six cuts in 11 European starts this season, including the last four in a row. But like Gronberg, he found the inspiration to card six birdies and a lone bogey in a 67 which gave him third place.
Clarke, who had gone from 38th, to tied first and then to tied fourth over the first three days, seemed well poised to gain compensation for the disappointment of last year, after birdie putts of eight feet at the fourth and seven feet at the sixth, brought him to seven under for the tournament.
Then came the first piece of ill-luck which hinted that it just might not be his day. From an eight-iron approach to the seventh, the ball clipped a protruding branch and found a watery grave for a double-bogey six. The next six came at the 16th where a three-wood second shot of 229 yards faded too much on the wind and caught the bank of the Liffey with the inevitable result. Westwood, playing in the second-last two-ball with Johansson, stamped his authority on things with four birdies in the first six holes. And after remarkable saves at the seventh and eighth, he covered the front nine in 31 - four under. When the leaders had all gone through the turn, Westwood on 10-under, led by two strokes from Cabrera and Johansson, with Clarke and Jarmo Sandelin a stroke further back, while Gronberg and Ignacio Garrido were on six under.
The Englishman then stretched his lead to three strokes over Cabrera with a birdie on the 10th. But the Argentinian and the two Swedes fought all the way against the inspired leader.
Eventually, we had further evidence of the golfing truism, that fine courses tend to produce fine winners. And Westwood is better than most.
