David Lynn shot a stunning final round of 63 to come from six shots back to win the Portugal Masters at the Oceanico Victoria Golf Course. The Englishman was in truly inspired form, as he claimed his second European Tour title, just a week shy of his 40th birthday.
Last week, Lynn was part of the Great Britain and Ireland team in the Seve Trophy, where he was laid low with a mystery virus. He would struggle to a heavy defeat to Miguel Angel Jimenez in the singles, as the Continental side claimed victory the first time since 2000. A week on, and Lynn will have positive emotions, after his 18-under total was enough to claim victory by a shot ahead of South African Justin Walters.
Coming into this week, one of Lynn’s goals was to return to the top 50 of the Official World Golf Rankings, in order to ensure of an invitation to the Masters Tournament in April. This victory has completed that objective, and culminates what has been a life changing 14 months for the popular former PGA Championship runner-up.
That second to place to Rory McIlroy at Kiawah Island catapulted Lynn into a career on the PGA Tour. He would take to the United States circuit superbly, securing his card for 2014 with not even half the year completed. Returning back to Europe, Lynn was hoping to successfully balance playing the two tours, a task that many have failed before. This victory, his first since the 2004 KLM Open in Holland, is the icing on the cake on what has been a meteoric, and somewhat belated, surge into the game’s elite.
On Sunday, after a struggling round of 73 the previous day, Lynn surged into contention as five birdies saw him complete the front-nine in 30. A bogey at the 10th looked like it may have derailed his chance to win, but be bounced back superbly with further birdies at the 11th, 14th, 15th and 17th to set that clubhouse target that would ultimately prove to be unassailable to the players behind.
“I was really disappointed when I walked off the course yesterday, I just didn't hole any putts and made seven at 17 and thought maybe I had played myself out of it.
”Today was just a case of I've got to go out there and make as many birdies as I can. I must admit I was thinking of Scott Jamieson's 60 (in the third round). If I could do something like that, who knows? The wind was up quite a bit today so eight under is a really good score.
”I really caught fire on the front nine; I was making everything I looked at, although I hit it to one foot at the first that got me off to a really good start. After that I made a couple of great putts for par to keep the momentum going and then I was making the birdie putts.”
However, Lynn very nearly lost the event on the final hole. His second shot to the 18th barely carried over the water, providing a few nervous seconds for Lynn and his supporters. But, he would then two-putt to post his final round of 63, which was ultimately enough to claim victory.
Justin Walters came into this week with a heavy heart, following the death of his mother just two weeks ago. At 126th in the Race to Dubai, the South African required a good week to secure his status on the Tour for next year. On the 18th, he would stunningly hole a par putt from 40 feet to secure a runner-up finish, and with it, his card for next year. The emotion of the situation flowed from the 32-year-old as he broke down in tears.
“I don't know if I can talk much right now,” said the Johannesburg born player. “Coming into the week I really didn't have any goals or ambitions, I just wanted to play and honour my mum and make her proud.
”The putts kept dropping and I kept hitting some decent shots and the last one at the end, she made it for sure. It was probably the best moment of my career. It was so cool because I had a lot on the line.
”I hadn't looked at a leaderboard all day so didn't know where I stood in terms of keeping my card and for it to go in on the last, all the emotions hit me.
”I don't think I have the words for it just yet. Maybe after a drink with my dad who is here with me we can fully take it all in, but at first glance I don't know how I did it. I am super proud and so happy I could honour my mum. That feels the best for me right now.”
Stephen Gallacher, Bernd Wiesberger and Paul Waring would all finish in a tie for third, with Scotland’s Chris Doak’s tie for eighth enough to secure his card for next season.
In the end, it was delight in the Algarve for Lynn, as Walters honoured his mother.