It took 21 years and 509 European tour events, but yesterday Malcolm Mackenzie confounded pundits and public by winning the French Open. He did it, moreover, with a birdie at the last and after a wobble of minor earthquake proportions had threatened to destroy his chances of a win yet again.
But the 40-year-old Englishman managed to regroup after bogeys at the 15th, 16th and 17th holes. Following an adequate drive to the 18th, he was faced with 193 yards to the pin, most of it over a lake.
Into the breeze he needed a two-iron, not exactly the club you would nominate to hit a green surrounded by water, but he struck it magnificently. When the ball pulled up 15 feet away all he needed was two putts for the win and with it a £206,000 cheque (€333,330).
That is £100,000 more than he won all last season; more than in any season during his career, and 10 times as much as his previous biggest cheque, when he finished fifth to Nick Faldo at the 1992 British Open.
Mackenzie's final round of level-par 72 for a 14-under 274 was good enough to hold off the 22-year-old South African Trevor Immelman, who was a stroke behind, while Ian Woosnam (70) eagled the 18th to tie for third with the Dane Anders Hansen (72) and England's Ken Ferrie (69) on 12 under.
Mackenzie, the son of former Sheffield Wednesday inside forward Laurie, was sans espoir, without hope, which makes it all the more surprising that not only did he win, but Olazabal took a 74 and could only tie for sixth place.
"It feels wonderful," said Mackenzie, who almost pulled out on Tuesday when his daughter was taken into hospital suffering from dehydration.
"It's taken 20 years to get here and I'm very, very happy. I'm delighted for my family who have supported me through thick and thin, all my supporters, and I can say I have done it at last.
"I was struggling financially and was overdrawn at the bank before this week. I was confident I could get out of trouble but never dreamed of this. It's worth all the 20 years' of hard work. The bank manager will be very happy and so will my wife; she has wanted an extension (to the house) for years and now it looks like she'll get one."
