Heineken Classic
The Vines, Perth
Australia
29th January - 1st February 1998

Par 72 Prize Money £555,500

Final Round Report

Final Round Scores
Third Round Scores
Third Round Report
Second Round Scores
Second Round Report
First Round Scores
First Round Report

Bjorn pips Woosnam in Perth

By Mark Garrod, PA Sport Golf Correspondent, Perth

Perth, Australia, 1st February 1998 - Denmark's Thomas Bjorn pipped Ian Woosnam by a stroke for the Heineken Classic title in Perth on Sunday.

On a windswept day when only eight of the 66 players broke par, Bjorn won when Woosnam, the 1996 champion, missed a six-foot eagle putt on the final green.

Bjorn shot a closing 74 to collect the £108,935 first prize with an eight under par total of 280. Woosnam managed only a 76, having four bogeys in a row around the turn and then three-putting the 17th.

The Ryder Cup Dane also bogeyed that hole after finding a bunker, but at the downwind 517-yard last he hit his second shot to 15 feet. When his eagle attempt lipped out Woosnam had the chance to force a play-off, but failed and had to be content with the £61,732 runners-up cheque.

Ireland's Padraig Harrington, home in 31 for a best-of-the-round 66, headed for the airport thinking he had no chance on six under par. But as all the players ahead of him started frittering away strokes he decided not to take his London flight and headed back to the course.

In the event, though, he had to settle for a share of third spot with US Open champion Ernie Els, Midlander Peter Baker and Spain's Jose Maria Olazabal.

Bjorn's only previous European tour victory was the Loch Lomond Invitational two years ago.