Woosnam keeps up his Irish love affair

IRISH SENIORS OPEN : IAN WOOSNAM continued his long-time love affair with Ireland when he completed a dramatic comeback from…

IRISH SENIORS OPEN: IAN WOOSNAM continued his long-time love affair with Ireland when he completed a dramatic comeback from six strokes behind overnight leader Roger Chapman to defeat American Bob Boyd at the third hole of a sudden death play-off to capture the Irish Seniors Open at Ballybunion.

The 51-year-old Welshman, a former US Masters champion and world number one, hit a six-iron to four feet at the 379-yard 18th and then, to the delight of the home crowd, beckoned the veteran local caddie “Small” Seán Walsh to give him the winning “read” on the putt that gave him his fourth victory on Irish soil and a cheque for €52,500.

With several tees pushed forward and the north-east wind relenting to 15 mph, Woosnam took full advantage to equal the best round of the week when he carded six birdies and two bogeys in a four-under-par 67 that completely unhinged a nervous Chapman, who was playing in the group behind.

Seeking his maiden win in just his third seniors start, the Englishman missed birdie chances inside 10 feet on the last two greens and closed with a disappointing 74 to finish one shot outside the play-off, in third place with Zimbabwe’s Tony Johnstone on one under par.

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It was Woosnam’s fourth major victory in Ireland – if you include his captaincy of the European side in the 2006 Ryder Cup at The K Club along with victories in the Carroll’s Irish Open in 1988 and 1989.

“I am absolutely thrilled,” said Woosnam. “I have been struggling on since the end of last year and not having any success.

“But I love playing in Ireland, winning the Irish Open twice and of course the Ryder Cup, which is something I will never forget. Ireland has been good to me.”

The Welshman was forced to use hire clubs in the pro-am when his own set was delayed in transit.

They arrived in time, but he opened with dispiriting 74, before shooting a superb 70 in Saturday’s gales to get to within six shots of Chapman on two over par.

“I never thought I’d even be at the presentation after the first round, I was so upset coming off the course,” Woosnam said.

“But when I saw Roger go back to one under par and I got to level par after eight holes, I thought I had a chance. I knew it was windy enough to shoot a good score.”

Woosnam bogeyed the ninth and 11th, but stormed home with birdies at the 13th, 14th, 16th and 17th to set up a thrilling finale with Boyd.

The 53-year-old American, who spent most of 2006 and 2007 in hospital battling acute myeloid leukaemia, shot a battling 71 to match Woosnam on two under par.

The title looked certain to go to Woosnam when the American was bunkered on their first visit to the 18th.

But he bravely saved par from 18 feet to stay alive, then watched Woosnam miss a 15-foot birdie chance for the title on the second play-off hole.

Woosnam hit a two-iron off the tee on all three visits to the 18th, and rifled a superb six-iron approach to four feet the third time around with Boyd following him in to 10 feet.

The American’s putt failed to break as he expected, however, and Woosnam calmly slotted home the winning putt with a little help from 70-year-old Walsh, who first caddied at Ballybunion when he was just eight years old.

Eamonn Darcy was the top Irishman after a closing 69 left him three shots outside the play-off in joint sixth place on one over par.

Des Smyth tied for 16th on six over after a final 73.