Lee Slattery records maiden victory at Bankia Madrid Masters as Luke Donald lurks in shadows
Coming out of a tough life in his earlier days where he had to manage day-to-day earnings through petty jobs, Englishman, Lee Slattery somehow kept his flair for the sport going to finally win the Bankia Madrid Masters in Spain on Sunday, October 9.
Already posting some brilliant rounds on the previous days, Slattery jostled in the final round, well aware that this might be the biggest moment of his life. He clinched his maiden title on the European Tour with an aggregate of 15-under, one shot better
than approaching contender, Italian Lorenzo Gagli.
He said, “I’ve never shaken so much in my life. I just stood over that putt and the hole looked tiny. I was strangling that putter because that one putt is a life changing putt.”
Slattery recalled the difficult times he spent before finally managing to get a tour card on the European Tour. The Englishman added, “I come from a normal working class background. My mum and dad have done everything they can for us and I got kind of emotional
walking down the last - I know how much it`s going to mean for them. I struggled for a time and had to work in a clothes shop.”
Slattery’s story is an epic journey of struggle and hardships which spans for nearly a decade. The 33-year-old Englishman played most of his professional golf on the Challenge Tour and had recently qualified for the European Tour. He lost his card in 2007
by a meagre €77 and was disappointed and dejected, as he had to return to the Challenge Tour. Slattery earned € 166,660 for his current win and the golfer will be able to retain his card for the whole next year.
Meanwhile, World Number One, Luke Donald finished for a joint 11th after his disappointing final round of 72. Most players fell in for a difficult windy day at El Encin Golf Motel, with several of them carding rounds of 68 or more. Swede Peter
Hanson carded the lowest round of 68 on the final day, finishing for joint sixth.
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