Luke Donald beats Lee Westwood in a playoff to win the BMW PGA Championship
Luke Donald birdied the first playoff hole of the European Tour’s BMW PGA Championship to lift his fifth trophy on the circuit, on Sunday, May 29. The Englishman defeated compatriot Lee Westwood by three-strokes and became the new world number one apart from bagging €750,000 and a magnificent trophy.
The battle took place at the par-5 18th hole of the Wentworth Golf Course in Surrey after the two Englishmen recorded a score of 6-under par, which tied them in regulation. Following the suggested method of picking waffles out of a jar to select the playoff hole, the duo took their turn and earned the closing hole of the back as the destiny maker.
Donald teed off first and while keeping his patience intact, the veteran hit a tee shot that plunged 270 yards and landed in the centre of the fairway. The winner of Accenture Match Play Championship hit the next shot to reach the green in two, but the ball stopped few inches away from the creek that ran between the green and the fairway. The 33-year-old, while relying on his wedges clamped a beautiful shot towards the right side of the green and rolled a birdie putt from 4 inches to set a benchmark for his opponent.
Westwood, who roamed around in a blue polo shirt, grounded a 5-wood on the tee but the ball missed the target and landed in the gallery on the right side. The veteran walked to the gallery and successfully retrieved the ball to target the spot where Donald rested before going for a birdie. Not much to his surprise, the 38-year-old found the spot, but could not save the par from there, as he chipped the ball and instead of rolling into the cup; the ball rolled into the water on the left side.
The veteran, who was penalized for throwing the ball into the water, putted for a double-bogey and missed it. He sealed the day in loss and left the course after shaking hands with the winner of the €4.5 million-event.
Meanwhile, Donald walked towards the winner’s podium and shared a quick conversation on his victory. He said, “I’m very proud, it was a great fight-back. It would have been easy to shoot myself out of the tournament. I certainly didn't feel nervous, I just felt a bit anxious because I didn't quite have the control I'd have liked. I kept persevering and trying things and getting that first birdie was important to right the ship. It wasn't pretty but I'm in with a great chance.”
Tags: