Golf

Matt Wallace clinches European Masters title with playoff win in Switzerland

Victory is the English golfer’s first in six years on the DP World Tour as he sees off Spain’s Alfredo Garcia-Heredia

England's Matt Wallace poses with the Omega European Masters trophy following his victory at Crans-sur-Sierre Golf Club in Crans-Montana, Switzerland. Photograph: Warren Little/Getty Images
England's Matt Wallace poses with the Omega European Masters trophy following his victory at Crans-sur-Sierre Golf Club in Crans-Montana, Switzerland. Photograph: Warren Little/Getty Images
Sun Sept 08 2024 - 18:14

England’s Matt Wallace held his nerve in a playoff to register his first DP World Tour win in six years with victory at the Omega European Masters.

The 34-year-old began the day with a four-shot lead but when playing partner Alfredo Garcia-Heredia birdied the last to join him on 11 under, the pair had to return to the 18th tee for an additional hole in Crans-sur-Sierre.

Faced with a near-identical approach shot to the one minutes earlier in regulation play, Wallace hit it to within eight feet – some 15 feet closer than his previous effort – to put the pressure back on his opponent who had seized the momentum with his late birdie also guaranteeing his playing privileges for next year.

The 42-year-old Spaniard, whose 132-event wait for a maiden win continues, could not hole his birdie attempt from 18 feet and Wallace roared with relief when his putt dropped, fighting back the tears in his post-round interview.

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“That’s a hard day. I felt like I played all right. I felt there was a score out there but I couldn’t get anything going,” he told Sky Sports after a level-par 70 saw his advantage whittled away.

“I just kept pushing and Alfredo did what he had to do at the end there. It’s a lot easier to make birdie when you need to on the last.

“It brings back memories of two years ago here when I lost. I wasn’t focused then, that is focus for me right there so I’m buzzing.

“I’ve been playing great and you don’t want to give it away. I stuck at it.”

The wind, which destroyed scores on day three, had been replaced by rain but it did not make it any easier for Wallace – winner of the Corales Puntacana Championship on the PGA Tour last year – who drove up against a tree at the first to make bogey.

He only maintained his four-shot lead as Garcia-Heredia also a dropped shot but some scrappy play saw Wallace, who missed just two fairways in Friday’s round of 62, failed to find the short stuff at his first two holes and also missed the green at the par-three third.

A first birdie arrived at the driveable par-four seventh but the third member of their group – Andrew Johnston – also made three there and holed a 17-foot putt at the next to reduce the lead to three.

The group endured an almost 30-minute delay on the 12th tee due to fog rolling into the higher parts of the mountain course but when they got going again the lead was cut to two after Johnston and Garcia-Heredia, whose two bogeys in his first four holes appeared to have dropped him out of contention, birdied the par-five 14th to get to nine under.

All three birdied the 15th but Wallace’s bogey at the next saw his lead cut to one and Garcia-Heredia’s brilliant approach to six feet at the last extinguished that completely.

Johnston’s 50-footer to also force himself into the playoff came up inches short but still guaranteed him his best finish since August 2020 after a number of injuries resulted in him having to play on a membership exemption this season.

The 24-year-old world number 862 home favourite Cedric Gugler, effectively playing on his home course, delighted the Swiss crowd with a round of 66 to clinch fourth place.

Ireland’s Gary Hurley finished in a tie for 56th position after closing with a level-par 70 to end the week on two over.