Photo by Warren Little/Getty Images. Click to enlarge.Christian Cévaër, Stanford All-American from 1989-92, had the finest moment of his 16-year pro career in winning the European Open, gaining him a 5-year European Tour exemption and $559,805 (341,220 euros). His world ranking leaped to 129th from 449th. Full details on the prestigious event played against the best in Europe can be found at http://www.europeantour.com.
Here's an excerpt from the European Tour's reporting on the event as can be found at the above link:
Christian Cévaër, the World Number 449 and without a top 30 finish in his last 15 tournaments, overcame a star-studded field and one of the toughest holes in golf to win The European Open.
After an amazing weekend which saw no fewer than 45 changes of the lead, the 39 year old, whose only previous European Tour victory was the 2004 Open de España, beat England's Steve Webster, Scot Gary Orr and Spaniard Alvaro Quiros by a shot.
His winning total of 281, seven under par, was 13 strokes more than Ross Fisher took on the same The London Golf Club course last year - and his 74 was the highest last round by a winner all season.
But while Webster and Quiros both became more victims of the 471 yard last when tied for the lead - both carved their drives into the crowd, with Quiros hitting spectators with his first and second shots - Cévaër kept his nerve.
During the week the par four played to an average of nearly 4.7, with 154 bogeys, 48 doubles and 26 sevens or worse, but Cévaër parred it the first two days, birdied it in the third round and finished with the par he needed.
"I'm not a long player, but I used my utility club and it worked out great," he said after being showered with champagne.
"I made a point that no matter what happened just enjoy my golf, enjoy my skills and hang in there."
Photo by Getty Images. Click to enlarge.
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