Bernhard Langer admitted he had enjoyed a huge stroke of luck after claiming
his 39th European Tour win, and 11th on home soil, in the German Masters in
Cologne.
Langer, 44, carded a final round 67 for a 22-under-par total of 266 and one
stroke victory at Gut Larchenhof. It was his fourth victory in the tournament he
co-promotes and runs with brother Erwin.
The veteran German collected the £278,000 first prize, his biggest cheque in
25 years on tour, and a second title of the season after going almost four years
without a victory until his TNT Dutch Open triumph in July.
John Daly's late charge came just too late and despite playing the last two
rounds in 15 under par, the American had to settle for a share of second
alongside Swede Fredrik Jacobson, who carded an error-free 67 with English duo
Roger Chapman and Greg Owen sharing fourth place on 19 under.
But it could all have ended differently if not for some good fortune and local
knowledge for the German on the 17th hole when he led by two shots.
His approach to the par four looked destined for the lake surrounding the
green but was lucky to hold up in heavy grass on the bank, within the boundaries
of the water hazard, but just inches from the water.
From there he was able to pitch to six feet and save par and could afford the
luxury of his only bogey of the day on the last after finding a greenside bunker
after playing safely away from more water guarding the green.
"It was a bad enough shot to go into the water but it was soft enough on the
bank and the grass was a bit longer than in the past," admitted Langer, who
qualified for his 10th Ryder Cup appearance this season.
"In the past we have had the grass shorter so balls roll back into the water
and we will do that again next year to make the course a bit harder.
"I was very fortunate, I got a great break and was able to get up and down to
save par.
"I wanted to come down the last with a two-shot lead and I was fortunate to
be able to do that and a bogey was good enough to win."
Daly was left to rue a slow start to the week, in particular a first round 71,
but had the consolation of joining Langer in taking a significant chunk of the
prize money with them on the private plane they shared for the flights from and
to America this week.
"I had a slow start this week but warmed up as I went along and hit the ball
really well over the last two days," said the two-time major winner who turned
down an invitation to play in the World Matchplay next week at Wentworth.
"I played the last 45 holes in 20 under par which isn't too bad. I had a lot
of opportunities and overall it has been another good week in Germany.
"I'm pretty happy. I figured I needed to shoot eight under again, as I did
yesterday, and that's pretty much how it worked out.
"I've got a lot of golf left in me this season and I will keep working hard.
Now I want to get into the top 40 on the US money list and make the Masters next
year."
Owen is still chasing his first tour title but was content enough with his
week after struggling to reproduce the form that brought him the lead after the
first round on Sunday.
"I didn't play well and was fighting to keep it together but put in a
great finish with birdies from some difficult positions over the last six
holes," said the 29-year-old from Mansfield.
"It was not quite there but overall I'm very pleased with the week.
"One of my goals is to qualify for the Seve Ballesteros Trophy next year and
this has done me the world of good."
Collated scores and totals in final round of Linde German Masters, Gut
Larchenhof, Cologne
(Gbr & Irl unless stated, par 72)
266 B Langer (Ger) 67 64 68 67 (£278,712)
267 J Daly (USA) 71 67 64 65, F Jacobson (Swe) 67 66 67 67 (£145,246 each)
269 R Chapman 67 69 67 66, G Owen 65 68 67 69 (#77,259 each)
270 G Orr 70 67 66 67, D Lynn 68 66 68 68
271 P McGinley 70 67 68 66, I Woosnam 69 68 66 68
273 R Karlsson (Swe) 67 69 69 68, R Russell 71 67 67 68, R Goosen (Rsa) 68 68
67 70, G Evans 71 65 66 71, R Wessels (Rsa) 67 70 65 71
274 C Montgomerie 70 70 68 66, I Poulter 67 69 67 71, M Farry (Fra) 72 65 66
71, S Webster 70 68 65 71
275 M Campbell (Nzl) 72 68 68 67, B Lane 68 70 68 69, A Forsbrand (Swe) 73 69
64 69, P O'Malley (Aus) 69 70 66 70, M Brier (Aut) 70 70 65 70, P Harrington 70
67 67 71
276 R Winchester 68 70 72 66, J Hugo (Rsa) 70 72 68 66, V Phillips 68 69 72
67, T Immelman (Rsa) 68 72 69 67, N Fasth (Swe) 72 69 68 67, P Casey 72 69 67
68, MA Jimenez (Spa) 68 69 68 71
277 R Muntz (Ned) 70 71 70 66, S Kjeldsen (Den) 70 67 72 68, M Ilonen (Fin) 69
67 72 69, A Hansen (Den) 70 68 70 69, D Clarke 68 67 71 71, J Sandelin (Swe) 67
69 70 71, P Fulke (Swe) 67 70 69 71, W Bennett 68 66 71 72, S Leaney (Aus) 67 66
67 77
278 M McNulty (Zim) 68 72 70 68, R Gonzalez (Arg) 66 70 73 69, D Carter 73 68
67 70, C Suneson (Spa) 70 69 68 71, J Senden (Aus) 66 72 68 72
279 M Lafeber (Ned) 72 68 72 67, A Wall 71 69 70 69, M Gronberg (Swe) 67 74 69
69, H Stenson (Swe) 67 69 73 70, I Garbutt 74 65 70 70, D Howell 70 70 69 70, J
Lomas 69 68 71 71, W Huget (Ger) 70 68 70 71, P Lawrie 71 70 67 71, J Van de
Velde (Fra) 73 68 67 71, N Dougherty 69 72 66 72, J Rose 72 66 68 73
280 T Levet (Fra) 71 71 69 69, JF Remesy (Fra) 68 70 72 70, L Parsons (Aus) 69
70 69 72
281 S Gallacher 72 70 72 67, D Smyth 71 71 72 67, I Garrido (Spa) 72 70 70 69,
S Luna (Spa) 71 69 70 71, B Davis 67 74 69 71, H Nystrom (Swe) 65 73 70 73, A
Cejka (Ger) 74 67 67 73
282 T Johnstone (Zim) 71 71 71 69, JM Olazabal (Spa) 69 71 68 74
283 M Scarpa (Ita) 72 68 74 69, A Coltart 72 69 72 70, M Siem (Ger) 72 70 71
70, N Cassini (USA) 73 68 70 72, J Lupprian (Ger) 70 70 70 73
284 A Scott (Aus) 70 71 73 70, L Westwood 72 70 69 73
285 E Canonica (Ita) 70 71 71 73
286 D Fichardt (Rsa) 68 74 75 69, G Emerson 71 71 70 74
287 G Brand Jnr 70 69 73 75
294 M James 72 70 72 80
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