Date: February 15, 2009
Author: Angus Morgan at Metropolitan GC, Sportal

Elosegui makes vital error

It was an oversight that will go down in Australian golfing folklore. When Spaniard Tania Elosegui holed a snaking seven-metre downhill putt at the 17th at Metropolitan on Sunday, she knew she was in the 2009 Australian Open right up to her neck. A glance at the leaderboard showed that the 27-year-old, chasing a breakthrough tour victory, was going to the last level at eight-under with crowd favourite Laura Davies competing in the group ahead. In a sensational admission, Elosegui said she just assumed that Davies would par the 18th and that she would also need a par to force a play-off. As it happened, Davies bogeyed the last. When the unknowing Elosegui landed her approach in the bunker at 18, she was under the impression she needed to get up and down to tie. Her six-metre putt for par skipped a metre past the hole, and thinking her chance for victory was gone, she missed the return putt for bogey. “I was trying to make it, but I was not really thinking that I have to make it to go to the play-off,” said Elosegui. “And then my caddie told me that Laura finished seven-under, she had a bogey at the last and I was kind of, &aposNo, I can&apost believe that&apos.” “It&aposs no-one&aposs fault, I just didn&apost look at the leaderboard at the 18th.” “I was almost sure that she was going to have a par on the 18th because it&aposs not a bogey hole – I didn&apost look and I didn&apost know.” Elosegui said she would not have attacked so aggressively with her par putt had she known that she had an extra shot up her sleeve. She said her caddie only realised the situation when he glanced at the leaderboard after helping her to line up her bogey putt. Davies was incredulous when told of Elosegui&aposs stuff up. “I never understand the leaderboard thing, not looking, you have to know where you stand,” said Davies. “If she thought she was putting for a play-off, I&aposm not criticising her in any way, shape or form, but I always like to look at leaderboards.” Despite her misfortune, Elosegui said she was proud of performance over the four rounds when she was at the front or thereabouts throughout. “Right now I&aposm very, very happy, but a part of myself says, &aposOh my God, you doubled the last to lose&apos.” “I don t know what to say.”