Goosen's monster putt pips sick Nick

Winner: Retief Goosen at Qatar Masters
14 April 2012

Retief Goosen felt like a star reborn after sinking a massive eagle putt on the final green to clinch victory in the Commercial Bank Qatar Masters.

It was the 37-year- old twotime U.S Open winner's first significant victory on the European or U.S tours for more than a year.

But there were also signs in the desert of a new English star being born.

Oliver Fisher, the 18-year-old from Essex playing only his fourth tournament as a professional, produced a final round 68 to finish in joint 11th place, only six shots behind the winner.

Fisher has yet to miss a cut since joining the Tour full time in November and now stands 72nd on the new European money list.

"I am still learning," said Fisher. "I have to learn to have more patience than I had as amateur, but the more I play at this level the more used to it I become.

"But I feel my game is good enough and that I'm moving forward in the right direction."

While Fisher will bank around £15,000, easily the biggest cheque of his fledgling career, the £170,000 Goosen made will be barely noticeable in his account.

But in terms of confidence the win was worth more to him.

"It's one of my goals this year to try to climb back up the world rankings and compete in the Majors again and this is a good way to start," he said.

"The last few months I have been working on my swing and there is still a long way to go but its great to have a win under my belt again. It's been a while coming."

For much of the day Australian Nick O'Hern looked on course to seal his first win in Europe after eight years of trying, but then Goosen produced his knock-out blow.

Needing a birdie to reach 14-under and force O'Hern into a play-off, Goosen sank a 50ft putt across two levels on the last green for a winning eagle.

For O'Hern, the seventh second place finish of his career was hard to take, but it only confirmed a deep suspicion that the 35-year-old from Perth can buckle under pressure going down the stretch.

He stood on the 18th tee with a one-shot lead, but drove into scrub while Goosen split the fairway with his drive and then flew a three-wood 280 yards to the par five green to set up his eagle.

Ernie Els made a late charge, shooting a final round 67 to finish in third place while his playing partner, North Ireland's Graeme McDowell, produced a similar score to finish in joint fourth.

For McDowell, who led the Open after the first round at Hoylake only to fade quickly, there were similar sentiments to Goosen as he signed for a fourth round 67.

His first venture onto the U.S Tour last year began with seven successive mixed cuts and only since he hired David Howell's coach Clive Tucker in the autumn has his game started to fall back into shape.

"It's just been far too long since my last win," said McDowell. "You have to take the rough with the smooth and I've had more rough than smooth over the past 18 months or so.

"But I have worked hard with Clive and I have to be pleased with a top five finish so soon. The swing is still a work in progress but I am pretty ready now to start achieving some good stuff this year."

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