Pablo Martin becomes first amateur to win on European Tour
QUINTA DA MARINHA, Portugal (Ticker)—Spain’s Pablo Martin became the first amateur to win on the European PGA Tour - a total of 1,145 events - with his victory Sunday in the Portuguese Open.
In a stunning performance, Martin fired a 3-under-par 68 to overcome a two-stroke deficit in the final round and defeat France’s Raphael Jacquelin by one shot.
“It feels great - absolutely great,” said the 20-year-old, who maintained he will not turn professional until this summer.
The last amateur to win a pro event in Europe was Ireland’s Dr. David Sheehan at the 1962 Jeyes Tournament at Royal Dublin, before the formation of the tour. On the PGFA Tour, Phil Mickelson won the 1991 Tucson Open as an amateur. Playing just his fifth tour event, Martin claimed the title but not the first prize of $277,000, which went to Jacquelin. The Malaga native won the British boys’ championship at 15 and currently stars at Oklahoma State, where he has won the Jack Nicklaus Award as the top collegiate player.
Martin earned an exemption through the end of the 2009 season but has just two weeks to act on it. Otherwise, he will only be able to accept five more invitations in Europe this year.
“I’ve already thought about (turning pro),” Martin said. “I’ve got to play with Oklahoma (State). They’ve been giving me so many things and it does not enter my mind right now.”
Just five weeks after making the halfway cut at a PGA Tour event in Mexico, Martin finished at 7-under 277 as he took full advantage of the absence of this tour’s stars, all preparing for the Masters.
Martin was eight shots off the lead midway through the third round but posted a 29 on the back nine 29 and a bogey-free closing round. He moved into a tie for the lead with a 10-foot birdie putt on the fourth hole and took the lead when he chipped to four feet at the long seventh hole.
With overnight leaders Alex Noren and Ross McGowan both falling away to rounds of 76, Martin opened a three-shot lead with seven holes to play.
Jacquelin made it interesting by two-putting the 573-yard 16th hole for birdie and chipping in from 30 feet for another at the last hole.
Two years ago at the 18th, Barry Lane gave away the lead with a quintuple-bogey 9. But Martin found the fairway, hit his second shot to 25 feet and two-putted for the title.
At the 2003 Spanish Open, Martin held the final-round lead but fell away to 22nd place with a 74.
“I think I have matured a little bit since then,” he said.
Tied for third were Englishmen Graeme Storm and David Griffiths, South African Charl Schwartzel and German Martin Kaymer.
Paul Broadhurst, who was trying to join Ian Woosnam, Nick Faldo, Colin Montgomerie and Tiger Woods as the only players to win a European Tour event three years in a row, finished 54th.
