Britain’s Ross Fisher, who contemplated pulling out of the European Open at the start of the week, banished any thoughts of fatigue to gallop to a seven-shot victory in Sunday’s final round.
The 27-year-old clinched his second tour win with a 68 for a 20-under-par total of 268 on a wet and windy day at the London Club, rounding off the tournament in memorable style by holing out from a greenside bunker for a closing birdie at the 18th.
World number eight Sergio Garcia took second place after defying the elements with a sparkling, best-of-the-day 66.
“To beat a star-studded field like this is really pleasing,” Fisher told Sky television. “It may have looked easy but it certainly wasn’t.
“I felt really calm all day, really composed and to finish with a bunker shot like that was delightful.”
Fisher, who led from start to finish after firing a course record 63 in the opening round, began the day three clear of fellow Briton Graeme McDowell.
But there was little doubt about who would pick up the first prize of 400,000 pounds ($793,600) after McDowell double-bogeyed the short third, his wayward tee shot finding the water.
The big-hitting Fisher effectively drove the final nail in his playing partner’s coffin two holes later by ramming in a 60-foot putt for an eagle three.
On Thursday, the fast-improving Englishman said recent golfing exertions had left him drained and he entertained thoughts of withdrawing. “But how do you pull out of an event when you only live 40 minutes away?,” he added.
Fisher, who had never seen the course before Thursday’s first round, soared from 104th to 56th in the world rankings after winning for the first time since the Dutch Open last August and claiming the biggest cheque of his career.
Garcia’s seven-birdie effort earned a total of 275 in his last competitive outing ahead of the British Open at Royal Birkdale in two weeks’ time.
“I managed to play pretty good in the conditions,” said the Spaniard. “I putted really well.
“Now I know what Tiger Woods feels like 98 percent of the time he gets on the greens. It is a great feeling.”
McDowell (73) was third on 276 on a miserable day for scoring at the Jack Nicklaus-designed Heritage course.
“My start wasn’t what I dreamed of,” said the Northern Irishman. “It was the start which woke me up in the middle of the night.
“Conditions were really brutal for the first 11 holes and four-over-par for the first four was not what I had in mind. Ross is a worthy winner. He played great and is one to watch for the future.”
South African David Frost, 48, attempting to become the tour’s oldest winner, carded a 71 for 277 to finish fourth and secure an exemption for the British Open.
A dank, grey autumnal-looking day that ended in bright sunshine featured several high scores.
The day’s worst rounds belonged to twice European Tour winner Richard Green of Australia and Austrian Martin Wiegele who ballooned to 11-over 83s.
Colin Montgomerie’s title defence ended disappointingly as he slid to a 77 for 287, one under.
European Open Scores
268 Ross Fisher 63 68 69 68
275 Sergio Garcia (Spa) 71 64 74 66
276 Graeme McDowell 65 67 71 73
277 David Frost (Rsa) 65 72 69 71
281 Soren Hansen (Den) 69 67 72 73
282 Peter Hanson (Swe) 68 71 71 72, Robert Karlsson (Swe) 74 66 73 69
283 Stephen Gallacher 70 68 71 74, Markus Brier (Aut) 71 71 71 70
284 Jeev Milkha Singh (Ind) 68 72 69 75, Sion Bebb 74 67 71 72, Rory McIlroy 67 71 72 74, Jamie Donaldson 73 70 73 68
285 Mikko Ilonen (Fin) 69 73 73 70, Michael Jonzon (Swe) 69 68 71 77, Maarten Lafeber (Ned) 71 71 70 73
286 Anthony Wall 70 70 75 71, David Howell 71 72 73 70, Ignacio Garrido (Spa) 72 71 67 76, Paul McGinley 69 68 71 78, Simon Dyson 73 69 76 68, Padraig Harrington 72 70 69 75, Thomas Levet (Fra) 72 70 72 72
287 Gary Orr 73 67 72 75, Colin Montgomerie 70 67 73 77, Oliver Fisher 72 70 74 71
288 Jean-Baptiste Gonnet (Fra) 71 70 72 75, Robert Rock 68 71 73 76, James Kingston (Rsa) 69 69 74 76, Robert Coles 76 66 72 74, Rafael Echenique (Arg) 70 69 74 75, Mark Brown (USA) 75 68 72 73
289 Andrew Oldcorn 73 70 73 73, Jean Van de Velde (Fra) 75 67 70 77, Pelle Edberg (Swe) 71 72 74 72, David Lynn 68 72 77 72, Gregory Havret (Fra) 73 68 73 75
290 Carl Suneson (Spa) 72 69 72 77, Steve Webster 73 70 71 76, Alvaro Velasco (Spa) 73 70 73 74, Justin Rose 69 73 77 71, Jean-Francois Lucquin (Fra) 69 73 73 75
291 Fredrik Andersson Hed (Swe) 72 69 74 76, Francesco Molinari (Ita) 70 73 73 75, Patrik Sjoland (Swe) 76 66 73 76, Gary Murphy 72 71 73 75, Chapchai Nirat (Tha) 74 69 72 76
292 David Griffiths 71 72 75 74, Ian Poulter 70 67 77 78, Stuart Manley 70 70 76 76, Jose Manuel Lara (Spa) 68 75 76 73, Simon Khan 70 72 77 73
293 Francois Delamontagne (Fra) 73 69 72 79, Benn Barham 70 72 74 77, Gregory Bourdy (Fra) 73 70 77 73, Peter Hedblom (Swe) 68 73 79 73, Graeme Storm 76 66 73 78, Bradley Dredge 75 66 75 77
294 Martin Wiegele (Aut) 71 68 72 83, Hennie Otto (Rsa) 72 70 78 74, Gonzalo Fdez-Castano (Spa) 68 75 73 78
295 Garry Houston 72 70 74 79, Michael Lorenzo-Vera (Fra) 74 66 80 75, Santiago Luna (Spa) 70 71 74 80
297 Paul Lawrie 73 68 79 77, Richard Green (Aus) 73 69 72 83
298 Raphael Jacquelin (Fra) 71 71 77 79, Paul Broadhurst 72 71 78 77
299 Emanuele Canonica (Ita) 72 70 77 80
