Frenchman Gregory Bourdy held his nerve to win a sudden-death playoff for the Portuguese Open title on Sunday against Britons David Howell and Alastair Forsyth.
The Frenchman led for the first three rounds, but a closing one-under 70 allowed Howell and Forsyth to match his 18-under 266 total before Bourdy claimed victory at the third extra hole.
Howell, rehabilitating after a 2007 season wrecked by injuries, set up a victory chance with a closing seven-under 64, while Forsyth, Bourdy’s closest rival overnight, birdied the final two holes for a 66.
The Scot was then eliminated at the second extra hole after driving into a bush and when Howell missed the green at the third playoff hole, Bourdy’s par was enough to earn the 25-year-old his second full tour title.
As in the third round, Bourdy began nervously, though, wasting a four-shot overnight advantage and losing his lead by the turn.
Three birdies in the first four holes coming home put the winner back on track and another on the long 16th subsequently got him into the successful shootout.
“It was so difficult for me at the start,” Bourdy told reporters, “and I was very frustrated with the way I was playing.
“Like yesterday I was nervous, too, and I didn’t even want to see the leaderboard, so I could focus on my game.
“I thought if I could be four-under-par for the back nine, though, I might be okay and I did it.”
Howell, six strokes behind Bourdy overnight, had charged into the playoff with a faultless finale, surviving a worrying moment on the treacherous 18th when his approach struck a spectator fence when it was bound for heavy rough. That allowed him to make par and the playoff.
It was the fourth time out of four the Englishman had lost a playoff but the former world number nine, who has slumped to 237th after a miserable 15 months, was happy to be playing well once more.
However, he was unhappy with the shot that left him only runner-up.
“My shot into the green at the third extra hole was a four-iron, a shot I’ve struggled with throughout my career and it cost me today,” Howell told reporters.
“But I can’t be too disappointed. It was a big week for me and I have to be happy with that.”
Another Briton, Miles Tunnicliff, who wrested the lead from Bourdy with a four-birdie front nine, took fourth place, one shot short of the shootout, with a closing 66.
Gonzalo Fernando-Castano, who also shared the lead during the final day, was a further stroke back with a 66.
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