Date: January 27, 2013
Author: Omnisport

Wood eagles 18th for maiden title

Chris Wood claimed his first European Tour title in dramatic style with an eagle on the last hole at the Qatar Masters on Saturday. But a last round 74 cost New Zealander Michael Campbell a chance to win as he slipped from a share of second to 16th, eight shots behind Wood. The Englishman fired a final-round 69 to finish at 18-under for the tournament and win by a shot from Spaniard Sergio Garcia and South African George Coetzee. Wood, who finished tied for third at the British Open in 2009 in his first major as a professional, is the first English winner on the Tour this season. The 25-year-old started the 18th one stroke behind Garcia and Coetzee but kept his cool on the final green as he stroked home from 10 feet to end a long drought in which he had three runner-up finishes and 19 top-10s. “There&aposs an enormous weight lifted off my shoulders today,” he said. “I feel like I can go on and win more.” Wood went into the last round with a three-stroke advantage but struggled early, registering a double-bogey and a bogey on his first six holes as he was pegged back by Garcia and Coetzee. But the Englishman recovered with three birdies to give himself a chance heading to the final hole before playing a magnificent approach shot which sealed him victory as he shot a three-under round. It was more heartbreak for Coetzee, who claimed his 21st top-10 finish on the tour after closing with a 65. Swede Alexander Noren and Englishman Steve Webster tied for fourth on 13-under after shooting rounds of 71 and 68 respectively, with Anthony Wall, Branden Grace and Simon Khan all ending a further shot back to tie for sixth. Andy Sullivan carded a round of 65 to jump into a share of ninth with Chilean Felipe Aguilar as both players ended the tournament on 11-under.