Smyth toasts Wentworth win
By Brian Keogh
Delighted Des Smyth vowed to let the pints flow at Baltray after ending his two-year victory drought in the Wentworth Senior Masters.
The Drogheda ace, 54, closed with a bogey free 69 to grab a two-shot win from Kiwi legend Bob Charles on six under par and give Irish golf another massive victory.
Just two weeks after Padraig Harrington’s Open win at Carnoustie, beaming Smyth promised to leave Ireland’s major winner in the shade when it comes to celebrations.
After banking €55,753, Smyth said: “I’ll be going home to Drogheda and to my golf club, Baltray, to sink a few pints.
“Padraig doesn’t drink, so he’s hopeless for the drink industry, but the crowd I knock round with will make up for him tonight!”
It’s been a nightmare year for Smyth on the Champions Tour in the US, where he has failed to win since 2005.
But he was smiling again last night after a three-under par final round 69 left him on six under par at Wentworth’s Edinburgh Course and sixth on the Seniors Order of Merit with €118,528.
Smyth said: "It’s great to win again – it’s what we do all the work for and I am thrilled to win again. So many great players have won it before, so to join that array of great players is very special. This is the happiest of all my great memories here at Wentworth."
With his confidence at an all time low, Smyth headed straight to the range to work on his game after the first and second rounds.
He said: "I wasn’t doing it to take the pressure off myself. I am just embarrassingly truthful about my golf and I have not been playing well. I was struggling – I have been all year.
"You saw today in the middle of the round I wobbled a little and hit some poor irons, but my short game pulled me through – my putting in particular. It was the best of all three days today."
Smyth paid tribute to 71 year old Charles, who beat his age with his closing 70 to finish in second place on four under par.
Smyth said: "He’s an amazing man. When I saw his name up on the leaderboard on the closing few holes, it certainly concentrated my mind."
Eammon Darcy signed for a 75 to tie for eighth with Denis O’Sullivan 25th after a 72.