Contrasting stories for Ormsby and Herbert in Switzerland

Lucas Herbert – file

Wade Ormsby and Lucas Herbert have tied for 8th at the Omega European Masters at the Crans-sur-Sierre Golf Club in Crans Montana in Switzerland, but it was a case of two very different stories on the final day.

Ormsby began the day one behind the leader, Andres Romero, and immediately took the lead when he holed a 12-foot birdie putt at the first as Romero bogeyed.

The South Australian stayed very much in contention throughout until a double-bogey at the par 5 15th would be the difference between a potential win and his share of 8th as he would finish just two behind the five-way playoff for the title.

Herbert, on the other hand, continued to improve after a slow start to the week and, beginning the final round eight shots behind the then leader, Romero, the Victorian produced a final round of 64 and recorded his best finish and first top ten since his 7th place in Dubai earlier this year.

Ormsby improved to 63rd in the Race to Dubai standings while Herbert has moved to 110th and with the leading 110 retaining their European Tour cards at season’s end he needs to improve further if he is to be back in Europe next season.

The pair both earned cheques for the equivalent of A$85,000.

There are still seven or eight events in which Herbert is currently eligible for starts and so there is plenty of opportunity yet and, importantly, he has made a very positive move this week.

The winner would be Sweden’s, Sebastian Soderberg, who put a quick end to a five-way playoff with a birdie at the first extra hole to win his first European Tour title.

Amongst those Soderberg defeated in extra time was none other than last week’s PGA Tour Champion, Rory McIlroy, who found a way to bounce back from a slow start to birdie five of six holes in his back nine to join the playoff.

“This is my seventh event in eight weeks, I’ve played a lot of golf,” said McIlroy. “Playing so much, little mental errors can creep in here and there. The sloppy finish yesterday probably cost me, but I fought back today and did my best. It just wasn’t meant to be.

“I’ll put the clubs away for a few days, rest, recover and reflect on what has been a pretty good season so far, and try to get myself back up for (the BMW PGA Championship at) Wentworth.”

Soderberg holed a putt from ten feet at the first playoff hole to claim the title.

The 28-year-old finished 5th in Sweden last week and after finishing his round was delighted just to have saved his status in Europe after what has been an ordinary year to date.

“I’m pretty thrilled right now, hasn’t really sunk in yet, said Soderberg. “I felt like I was pressing down my emotions all day just to try to focus. It’s unbelievable. I’ve dreamt of winning on the European Tour, even better doing it this way.

“I was more nervous in the beginning than I was towards the back nine. Got on a good run and the ball kept going in. Just playing with Rory, there are so many people around. Playing with a guy like that adds heat to it right away.

“I proved to myself that I can play out here. I didn’t really know that I was ready to win, I had a terrible start to the season and I felt like I was just trying to make my way into the top 110 and keep my card for next year. It’s just a surreal way to do it.

“I was just trying to take one shot at a time and my brother (Jesper) told me most likely my card was secured when we’d finished, which was nice. I had nothing to lose at all and it’s going to change a lot going forward.”

The European Tour now moves to Germany for the Porsche European Open in Hamburg.

Final Scores

/by