Storm wins a super car and secures 2015 card in the process

Post by Sports Writer, Derek Clements

Graeme Storm will not forget the Omega European Masters in a hurry. A hole in one during the third round earned him a £100,000 BMW sports car and, after a wretched a season, he came within a whisker of winning the tournament, losing in a playoff to David Lipsky, a 26-year-old American from Los Angeles.

While Storm was initally bitterly disappointed not to add to his sole Euopean Tour success, the 2007 French Open, he took consolation from the fact that finishing second secord his card for 2015.

After Storm and Lipsky had finished tied on 18 under par, they had to play the 18th hole again - Storm had been forced to hole a tricky six-foot putt to get into the playoff. Lipsky earned his maiden European Tour win thanks to a par four after Storm's wayward drive came to rest against a wall, costing him a dropped shot.

Storm, 36, had no option but to chip out on to the fairway. However, Lipsky, who had just 86 yards to the hole with his second shot, took no risks by laying up short of the green.  His decision proved justified when he chipped close to the pin and, after Storm had made a five, was left with a simple putt for victory on another stunning day at the scenic Crans-sur-Sierre Golf Club.

Lipsky, playing in the penultimate group, birdied the 18th with an approach to within inches of the hole. to record a final round of 65. That left Storm, who aced the par three 11th on Saturday, needing a three for victory but he played safe to set up the playoff.

Storm and Lipsky completed their 72 regular holes one ahead Brooks Koepka, who was tied for the lead with Storm until a bogey on the 17th, where his wayward approach plugged in a greenside bunker, and Tyrrell Hatton, who had a 65.

The round of the day was Danny Willett’s 63, which left him on 16 under alongside Tommy Fleetwood.

Afterwards, Storm said: “It’s tough to take right now. I didn’t have much time between finishing my final round and starting the play-off, so I probably wasn’t as composed as I should’ve been. So it was obviously disappointing, but overall it’s been an unbelievable week. There a lot of emotions flying round right now so I’ll have to reflect with a clear head in the morning, but there are definitely lots of positives to take from the week.  

“Obviously I would’ve loved to have won here this week, and it may take a little while to get over the disappointment, but on the plus side I’ve secured my card for next season, and I would definitely have taken that at the start of the week.”
Storm admitted that his form this season has been affected by distractions off the course, although he refused to elaborate.
Naturally, Lipsky was delighted to record his first victory.

“I don’t want to let this trophy go, that’s for sure," he said. "It’s been an incredible day and an incredible week, I don’t want to wake up and realise I’ve dreamed it.

“I was very nervous in the play-off. It’s a tough tee shot anyway, but when there’s the title on the line it’s very tough. You have to draw your tee shot from right to left to hold it against the hill, and I thought I’d hit a great shot but it ended up going in the bunker. It was a tough shot out of the bunker and with Graeme only going to make par at best, I decided not to risk going in the water. In the end it was the right play, and I’m so pleased to get the job done.”

Derek Clements is a sports journalist with a particular passion for golf with over 12 years of experience covering golf and other sports including Chief Sub-Editor on the sports desk of The Sunday Times. To contact Derek email direct via [email protected]