Sweden’s Mikael Lundberg holed a 38-foot putt on the first hole of sudden death to dramatically snatch victory away from home favourite Bernd Wiesberger and clinch a third win on the European Tour at the Lynoness Open.
The 40-year-old from Helsinborg, whose last win came in Russia six years ago, surged into the reckoning on Sunday courtesy of a brilliant final round of 65. A tremendous effort that took him to 12-under, made even more impressive considering it would see him rebound from a 76 on Saturday.
The 28-year-old Austrian, Wiesberger looked set to win the event for a second time in three years, before a bogey on the par five 16th took him back into a tie with Lundberg – who at this point was watching the action unfold in the clubhouse alongside his girlfriend. In the end, there would be no birdie in the final two holes, and Wiesberger would hole a par putt on the last to ensure that the tournament would finish via a playoff.
Back to the 18th tee the two protagonists went, with Wiesberger hitting the better of the two tee shots to the closing par three. The Austrian’s approach from the elevated tee flew right over the pin, leaving him 18-feet for birdie. The advantage was is, with Lundberg almost 40-feet away from the hole. But in golf, and particularly playoffs, the unexpected can happen, and it did in this instance.
Lundberg would dramatically convert that lengthy putt for birdie, shattering the hopes of the crowd. Wiesberger would fail to reply, seeing the Swede, who had come into the week ranked 177th on the Race to Dubai, claim the victory.
"Today just started off really well on the first couple of holes. I made some really nice putts that changed the whole attitude," said Lundberg who started the final round with four birdies in his opening five holes.
"As for the play-off, what can I say? I didn't hit a great shot and Bernd hit a fantastic shot but that's golf. Luckily I had almost the same putt on the 72nd hole so I had the line a little bit, but to hole that putt was fantastic.
"I tried not to look at the leaderboards and do my thing because they are great players and they had some par fives coming up which I thought they would birdie, so I just tried to put a good number out there and hopefully it was going to take me somewhere close.
"It's fantastic considering I've had to go back to the Tour School the last four years."
Wiesberger required victory to guarantee his place in next week’s United States Open Championship, but his second place finish may yet see him make it to Pinehurst via the World Ranking, but he will require results in Memphis to go his way.
"I can be proud of myself this week, I played good, not great,” said Wiesberger.
"It would be nice to get a chance to play the US Open and if I get there I will be in good form as well.
"I was happy to take the lead and I had it in my hands, I threw it away a little bit," added the 2012 winner. "I hit five bad shots on the 16th which cost me.
"I hit a better shot in the play-off but he made a great putt. He has not been in the winner's circle for a while, he deserves it, but I lost it a bit. I would have taken getting into a play-off at the beginning of the day, but it's a bit cruel now."
Talented Dutchman, Joost Luiten had come into the final round with a two shot lead, but would have an inconsistent day of four birdies and four bogeys. Ultimately, he would not find a birdie in the final three holes, and came up one shot short of the playoff.
"I didn't play great, didn't get any good breaks and nothing went my way. It was one of those days," said Luiten, who is now off to Pinehurst for the second major championship of the year. "If you are two clear you want to win and finish it off and if you don't do that you're disappointed."
Disappointment for Luiten, but delight for Lundberg, who was the star at Diamond Country Club.