Ballesteros claims Open

Press, 24 July 1984, Page 40

Ballesteros claims Open

NZPA-AAP St Andrews The 17th hole at the Old Course at St Andrews spoiled the first three rounds of the Open for Severiano Ballesteros, but the way he played it yesterday secured his win in the world’s greatest championship. Ballesteros parred the treacherous "Road Hole” for the first time in the tournament, while his main rival, Tom Watson, bogeyed to lose any realistic chance of winning his sixth title. The Spaniard holed a five metre putt at the final hole to leave Watson needing to par the 17tb and birdie the last to force a play-off. But Watson surrendered any chance of taking the Open into a fifth day when he pushed his two iron second at the 17th over the road to the right of the green and less than a metre from the wall. With a severely restricted

backswing, Watson did well to get the ball within 12m of the hole. But his putt for par from that distance was never a chance. Neither was his second into the 18th green, which he needed to hole to tie with Ballesteros. Ballesteros was reminded at the press conference after the third round that he had made three successive fives at the 17th, which he described as "by far the most difficult hole in the world.” “Don’t you worry, I’ll par it tomorrow,” he said. He was true to his word as he rifled a six iron from the left rough to within 20 metres of the pin on the huge green. Two putts later the par, and as it turned out, the Open, was his. Ballesteros also made good his prediction after the first round that a 12 under par tptal would win the

Open. That score, 276, was exactly what he achieved and in doing so broke the Australian, Kel Nagle’s record St Andrews aggregate of 278, set in 1960. He won by two shots from Watson, who had to settle for a par at the 18th and a tie for second place with the West German, Bernhard Langer, who must surely win a major championship if he can improve his putting. Langer was the best player in the field from tee to green yesterday, but he missed six putts of four metres or less. Sadly, the rags to riches tale of the Queenslander, lan Baker-Finch, had an unfortunate end. Baker-Finch, equal with Watson in the overnight lead, collapsed with a seven over par 79 to finish equal ninth at four under par. Leading scorers:— 276 — Severiano Ballesteros

(Spain) 69, 68, 70, 69. 278 — Bernhard Langer(W. Germany) 71, 68, 68, 71; Tom Watson (U.S.) 71, 68, 66, 73. 281 — Fred Couples (U.S.) 70, 69, 74, 68; Lanny Wadkins (U.S.) 70, 69, 73, 69. 282 — Greg Norman (Aust.) 67, 74, 74, 67; Nick Faldo (G. 8. 69, 68, 76, 69. 283 — Mark McCumber (US.) 74, 67, 72, 70. 284 — Graham Marsh (Aust.) 70, 74, 73, 67; Sam Torrance (G. 8. 74, 74,- 66, 70; Ronan Rafferty (Ireland) 74, 72, 67, 71; Hugh Baiocchi (South Africa) 72, 70, 70, 72; lan Baker-Finch (Australia) 68, 66, 71, 79. 285 — Andy Bean (U.S.) 72, 69, 75, 69; Fuzzy Zoeller (US.) 71, 72, 71, 71; Peter Senior (Aust.) 74, 70, 70, 71; Bill Bergin (US.) 75, 73, 66, 71; Hale Irwin (U.S.) 75, 68, 70, 72; Lee Trevino (U.S.) 70, 67, 75, 73. 291 — Bob Charles (New Zealand).