Tough scoring at Valderrama
Andrew ‘Beef’ Johnston, as they affectionately call him on Tour, held off the challenge from Dutchman Joost Luiten to secure his maiden victory on the European Tour in the Real Club Valderrama Open de Espana (14-17 April) hosted by the Sergio Garcia Foundation. The 27-year old Englishman won by one shot after carding a one-under par final round of 70 for a tournament score of one-over.
The two had teed-off as tournament leaders on the Sunday on two-over par with a host of star players in the chasing pack. With five top-ten finishes in eight appearances so far this season, Joost Luiten was the player for Johnston to keep his eye on. But while the two were level-pegging at the turn, Martin Kaymer (Germany) and defending champion James Morrison turned up the heat on the back-nine to take a share of the lead. A few holes later, Spain’s Sergio Garcia joined the jostle to create a four-way tie after making birdies at the 16th and 17th only to squander his share of the lead with a bogey at the 18th. With typical Spanish flair, he had surged ahead on Sunday to delight the home crowds by coming from six shots behind. A total of six birdies in his closing round of 67 earned him third spot on 287.
Promising Sunday start for Joost
The day had looked promising for the 30-year old Dutchman after back-to-back birdies at the 4th and 5th. He then struggled to get back into red figures again after his second bogey of the day at the 11th and had to settle for a run of seven straight pars for a level par 71 to end his hopes of a 5th European Tour victory. Johnston’s moment of glory came at the 16th hole where he holed a birdie putt from 20-feet to nudge one ahead of Luiten. Two holes later, the former Challenge Tour player from London had clinched his first title in his 63rd European Tour event and collected the biggest cheque of his career to date: 333,330 euros. One shot behind in second place, Joost Luiten earned himself a handsome 222,220 euros.
Johnston’s one for the record books
Seldom does an above par score win on the Tours these days. Indeed, we are more accustomed to seeing scores reaching double figures below par. However, playing conditions were particularly tough at San Roque, Andalucia. Andrew Johnston becomes the first man to win on the European Tour with a score over par since Justin Rose won the US Open at Merion in 2013. In Europe, it was 20 years ago that Welshman Ian Woosnam won the Scottish Open at Carnoustie with a tally of one-over par in 1996.
Wendy Hoad
PICTURED: Two times winner on the Challenge Tour, Andrew Johnston speaks with the press about his first victory on the European Tour.