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Aussie Rumford edges to victory

09/09/2007

A sensational chip from Brett Rumford gave him a playoff victory over England's Philip Archer in the European Masters in Switzerland.

The Australian birdied the first playoff hole after a stunning shot from the fringe of the 18th green.

Archer missed his birdie from the edge of green to hand Rumford victory and a winners' cheque of $454,000 (£223,833).

Both players had finished on 16-under par, a stroke ahead of defending champion Bradley Dredge.

Archer came agonisingly close to victory after a stunning final round of 65. The Englishman made five birdies on the front nine to reach the turn in 31.

He then made birdies on the tenth and 15th holes to soar to the top of the leaderboard. But a bogey on the 17th cost Archer the chance of victory.

Rumford had a solid round and fired four birdies, including on the two opening holes.

But the Perth-based golfer dropping his first shot in 30 holes with a bogey on the 17th.

Rumford then missed a ten-foot putt on the final hole to force a playoff in which he triumphed after a 30-foot chip to become the 17th first-time winner on the European Tour this season.

Elsewhere, Oliver Wilson was fifth after a final round of 71 to finish on 14-under while Lee Westwood carded 70 to finish joint sixth with Spain's Gonzalo Fernandez-Castano.