It has been 3 years and 213 days, but Ross Fisher is once again a winner on the European Tour. The 33-year-old Englishman would hold off a charge from Michael Hoey, before claiming a three-shot victory at the Tshwane Open in South Africa.
Fisher, whose last win came at the Irish Open in 2010, started the day with a five shot lead, but Northern Irishman Hoey, who has five Tour wins to his name, cut the Englishman’s advantage to just one after making birdie on the 11th. At this stage, Hoey was five-under for the final round, but that momentum was abruptly ended by a double bogey on the 12th. The 35-year-old would find the water with his approach, with Fisher reasserting his authority even further after a brilliant eagle on the 15th that would eventually see him claim a fifth victory on the European Tour after a final round of 70.
Hoey would finish three shots back of Fisher’s 72-hole total of 20-under alongside home favourite Danie Van Tonder, with Spain’s Carlos Del Moral a shot further behind at 16-under.
However, afterwards it was simply pure delight for Fisher who ends that lengthy winning drought.
"I'm thrilled to get over the line," Fisher said.
"It was a testing day with the weather conditions and playing with Mike he put up a great challenge for me.
"I set a target of trying to go out there and shoot in the 60s and almost managed to do it. I had a little mishap on the last but I'm just glad to be standing here talking to you as champion."
Fisher admitted his eagle on the 15th had helped to settle any potential nerves.
"It's been pretty good to me this week (the 15th hole)," he said.
"There have been a couple of eagles, but that was a big putt there.
"I know I was only a couple ahead. To hit a nice shot there and have a good look at three and to see it drop - I think I went four shots clear with only three to play I knew I could coast in.
"There was a little wobble on a few of those holes and I managed to make a couple of good par saves on 16 and 17.
"It would have been nice to shoot 69 but unfortunately I missed one on the last. I'm not going to complain."
No complaints from Fisher, who moves up to 14th on the Race to Dubai. After an ambitious but ultimately unsuccessful spell in the United States last year, Fisher has reestablished himself back in Europe as he seeks to return his career to the highs of 2010, when he would qualify for the Ryder Cup at Celtic Manor.
Hoey was left to rue one brief moment of lapsed concentration that would halt his charge, but reflected on what had been a solid and positive week.
“I just lost concentration with my second at the 12th and that cost me,” said Hoey, whose last win came in Portugal last summer. “Apart from that there wasn’t much wrong, but golf is a fine line.”
Hoey’s charge came courtesy of a birdie at the opening hole, an eagle on the fourth, before further birdies at the eighth and 11th.
“Ross was a solid player this week and I’m happy to have some consistency - I’ve never been consistent, but I was quite consistent this week.
“It’s nice to be up there and not win; I know that sounds crazy, but normally I just win. For me to finish top three without winning is a good start.”
A good start indeed for the Northern Irishman, but it was a great one for Fisher who is back in the winner’s circle again.