It’s ‘Viva Espana’ all the way back to San Sebastian, when our Spanish hero, Adrian Otaegui, finally triumphed over the Championship’s leading contender, but it took him 22 holes and a superb birdie 2 to do it.
Julien, however did not go down without a fight. He gave a display of putting which have graced any professional event. At one down on the 18th and Adrian leaving his approach putt stone-dead, Julien struck his attempt with perfect pace and accuracy …the result, a birdie three, all-square match and off down the 19th.
A birdie from each player sent the game to the 20th, though again it took another superb putt from our French Monsieur to do it. Two scrappy bogey 5’s, the result of slack tee-shots, extended the game to another extra hole. Superb tee-shots, but followed by somewhat in approaches suggested a possible end to the contest, especially when Julien’s ball end against the back lip of the greenside bunker. Adrian pitched to two feet leaving the pressure on his opponent. An imaginative shot left Julien with a 25 footer for a halve. A touch of putting genius saw the putt drop, and the players trod to hole 22.
While a super-save shot saw Julien’s ball on the centre of the green, it was Adrian’s turn for poor fortune. A kick to the right and into the semi-rough, though still pin-high, it meant he would be first to play and attempt quite a difficult pitch. Advantage La France.
However, the golfing Gods still had something to add ..Lob wedge, punched low with a lot of back-spin saw the ball pitch 10 feet short and its perfect pace saw the ball drop for a superb birdie 2. Advantage Espana.
Could the putting magician do it for a fourth time. Having examined the line from every angle, he struck the putt with authority and pace. Sadly, the ball failed to take the break and missed right.
Game Over!!
Both players showed amazing camaraderie, chatting between shots and walking the fairways in a very relaxed mood. This tussle would certainly have graced a great final.
Julien, however did not go down without a fight. He gave a display of putting which have graced any professional event. At one down on the 18th and Adrian leaving his approach putt stone-dead, Julien struck his attempt with perfect pace and accuracy …the result, a birdie three, all-square match and off down the 19th.
A birdie from each player sent the game to the 20th, though again it took another superb putt from our French Monsieur to do it. Two scrappy bogey 5’s, the result of slack tee-shots, extended the game to another extra hole. Superb tee-shots, but followed by somewhat in approaches suggested a possible end to the contest, especially when Julien’s ball end against the back lip of the greenside bunker. Adrian pitched to two feet leaving the pressure on his opponent. An imaginative shot left Julien with a 25 footer for a halve. A touch of putting genius saw the putt drop, and the players trod to hole 22.
While a super-save shot saw Julien’s ball on the centre of the green, it was Adrian’s turn for poor fortune. A kick to the right and into the semi-rough, though still pin-high, it meant he would be first to play and attempt quite a difficult pitch. Advantage La France.
However, the golfing Gods still had something to add ..Lob wedge, punched low with a lot of back-spin saw the ball pitch 10 feet short and its perfect pace saw the ball drop for a superb birdie 2. Advantage Espana.
Could the putting magician do it for a fourth time. Having examined the line from every angle, he struck the putt with authority and pace. Sadly, the ball failed to take the break and missed right.
Game Over!!
Both players showed amazing camaraderie, chatting between shots and walking the fairways in a very relaxed mood. This tussle would certainly have graced a great final.
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