McIlroy runs out of steam; Power blow; top 30 for McBride
Sebastian Soderberg. Picture: Getty Images
Rory McIlroy is looking forward to recharging his batteries for the start of the Ryder Cup campaign after losing Omega European Masters and his fifth career playoff in six attempts.
The jaded world number two ran out of steam in his seventh event in eight weeks and admitted he made "too many mistakes" after narrowly failing to match a birdie by Sweden's Sebastian Soderberg at the first hole of a five-way playoff.
"I made enough birdies, but I just didn't quite have it on the weekend," lamented the Holywood star, who made an eagle and 26 birdies over the four rounds —and five birdies in his last seven holes yesterday—but also ran up 14 bogeys. Scores
"This is my seventh event in eight weeks, I've played a lot of golf. Playing so much, little mental errors can creep in here and there. The sloppy finish yesterday probably cost me, but I fought back today and did my best. It just wasn't meant to be.
"I'll put the clubs away for a few days, rest, recover and reflect on what has been a pretty good season so far, and try to get myself back up for (the BMW PGA Championship at) Wentworth."
McIlroy bogeyed his last two holes on Saturday and went into the final round tied for fifth, three shots behind Andres Romero, in his bid to avenge his 2008 playoff loss at Golf Club Crans-sur-Sierre.
But despite making four bogeys to be two-over-par and five strokes off the lead with eight holes to go, he showed his class when he rallied with four birdies in a row from the 12th to move into contention
When he curled in an 18 footer for another at the 17th to get to 14-under, playing partner Soderberg three-putted for bogey from seven feet to fall back into a five-way tie for the lead.
Despite a poor five-wood into the trees at the 18th, McIlroy chipped out and brilliantly to save par and card a three-under 67.
It was a par worthy of Seve Ballesteros, who conjured that magical birdie from almost the same spot in 1993 by refusing to chip out sideways, then flying his approach over a wall, through a small gap in the then far smaller trees to the front of the green before chipping in.
McIlroy didn’t have that option but his wedge to two feet was memorable and his par left him tied on 14-under with Soderberg (who shot 66), Italy's Lorenzo Gagli (67), Finland's Kalle Samooja (67) and overnight leader Romero (70) on 14-under.
Dale Whitnell. Picture: European Tour
But his luck ran out on their return to the 18th, where Gagli (upset after hitting a spectator with his drive) came up short in a lake and Romero failed to chip in for birdie.
Having missed a chance to win the title at the 72nd hole, Swede Soderberg (28) seized his opportunity and holed a ten-footer for birdie before both McIlroy and Samooja missed from inside him to extend the playoff.
"I'm pretty thrilled right now, hasn't really sunk in yet," said the Swede, who was struggling to keep his card.
"I had a terrible start to the season and I felt like I was just trying to make my way into the top 110 and keep my card for next year. It's just a surreal way to do it."
Seamus Power is battling to regain full status on the PGA Tour, but he will need the round of his life in the final round of the Korn Ferry Tour Championship today (Monday) to pull it off.
A two-over 74 at Victoria National Golf Club in Indiana left him tied 54th on two-under and nine shots outside the solo seventh-place finish he needs to win one of 25 cards via the Korn Ferry Finals Points List.
England’s Tom Lewis leads by two strokes on 16-under par from Lanto Griffin with Grayson Murray Fabian Gómez and Scottie Scheffler four behind on 12-under.
Power needs to catch Henrik Norlander and Chris Baker, who are tied for sixth on 11-under par. Lewis needs to finish ninth to secure his card while Norlander and Baker need 12th.
Meanwhile, The Island's Paul McBride finished tied for 28th on 14-under after a final round 67 at the Challenge Tour's KPMG Trophy in Belgium.
Robin Dawson had to settle for 58th on 10-under after a 73, falling two spots to 75th in the newly-renamed Road to Mallorca Rankings, but there was joy for England's Dale Whitnell (31) who ended his 10-year wait for a professional victory.
Whitnell carded an eight-under 63 to set the target at 23-under and birdied the 18th in sudden death to take the title from compatriot Laurie Canter, who eagled the 18th to force a playoff.
England's David Shacklady won The Sinclair Invitational on the Staysure Tour, carding a six-under 66 to win by a shot from Markus Brier on 11-under at Hanbury Manor Marriott Hotel and Country Club.
Mark McNulty finish 39th on six-over with Des Smyth a shot further back after a 74 and Philip Walton eight -over after an 81.
At the LPGA TOUR’s Cambia Portland Classic, Stephanie Meadow dropped five shots in her last five holes, closing with a three-over 75 to finish 70th on level par.
Australia's Hannah Green closed with a 67 to win by one stroke from Yealimi Noh on 21-under.
On the PGA Tour Champions, Darren Clarke tied for 43rd in the Shaw Charity Classic in Calgary, carding a two-over 72 to finish on one-under par, 12 strokes behind West Short Jnr.
