Argentina's Andres Romero snatched a surprise victory at the BMW International Open on Sunday with a blistering finish, firing a final round of 65 to finish a shot clear of US Masters champion Sergio Garcia. Romero, playing on a sponsor's invitation, recorded his first win on the European Tour for a decade thanks to his seven-under par final round, sinking five birdies over the last eight holes to finish at 17-under.
"I am satisfied. After ten years, winning on the tour again is great," said the 36-year-old Romero, who had not won any tournament since a triumph on the U.S Tour in New Orleans nine years ago.
"I felt a bit funny on the 18th hole because I have not been in that position for a long time and I looked up at the leaderboard. I was a little nervous but I ended up doing it well." Garcia, Briton Richard Bland and Belgium's Thomas Detry finished in a three-way tie for second place on 16-under. Spaniard Garcia, in his first appearance in Europe since his first major triumph in April, had started the day as joint leader along with Bland.
Despite a rocky start on Sunday with a bogey at the first hole, Garcia, who waited nearly two decades to notch his maiden major at Augusta, upped his game and hit a fine second shot on the third to rejoin the lead.