Victory ovation leaves Olazabal close to tears

JOSE MARIA OLAZABAL re established himself as a major force in European golf when after just 25 days of his comeback he won the…

JOSE MARIA OLAZABAL re established himself as a major force in European golf when after just 25 days of his comeback he won the Turespana Masters in Gran Canaria yesterday.

The 31 year old Spaniard beat England's Lee Westwood by two strokes after a final round of 67 at Maspalomas gave him a 20 under par total of 272.

Westwood, who closed with 71, birdied the last hole to secure second place from Paul Broadhurst (68) and Eduardo Romero (69), who tied on 276.

Olazabal, who was out of golf for 18 months until he returned to be 12th in the recent Dubai Desert Classic, was in tears after a 16th European Tour win he never imagined possible during his darkest days last year.

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"I thought I would never play again, so when I stood over my last putt on the 18th green there were tears in my eyes as I remembered all I had been through in the last 18 months," he said.

Olazabal's prize of nearly £62,000 not only lifted him to fifth place in the Volvo ranking, it also elevated him to 20th in the Ryder Cup table. As important, it is a massive boost to the confidence of the former Masters champion prior to his return to Augusta next month.

"There are still things I have to work on, especially my driving," he added. "But my feet are no worse than they were at the start of the last two weeks, and that is the most positive thing I will take with me."

He will also draw strength from the mental solidity that enabled him to hold off the challenge of Westwood, who had tasted victory three times in the last seven months.

Olazabal began the last round two behind the 23 year old and Jose Coceres of Argentina But after going out in 32 he was two ahead, helped by a mishap to Westwood at the fourth where he hooked his second shot and saw his ball fly into a palm tree. He took a bogey six.

While Westwood missed an 18 inch putt at the 10th, to fall three behind, the Spaniard was in control, and a golfer who had not made a mistake since three putting the 10th in the second round was in no mood to surrender that lead.

Olazabal pinned his faith on his one iron to counter the blustery wind, and despite Westwood's birdies at the 11th and 14th, still had two shots in hand when he reached the last tee.

Two lone irons to the heart of the green gave Olazabal the luxury of three putts for victory. But emotion then took over. There were tears in his eyes as he holed out to a rapturous ovation, and he mumbled: "That was something very difficult to cope with Earlier, Padraig Harrington had completed a final round of 72 to be the leading Irishman, in 30th place on an eight under par 284, worth £3,104.

Des Smyth had 73 on 285, for 36th worth £2,602, while David Higgins closed with 75 for 290 (£1,078 to be joint 60th).