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ALVESLOHE, Germany - Argentina's Andres Romero rounded off a heady seven days by claiming his maiden European Tour golf title at the Players Championship on Monday (NZ time).
A week after he led the British Open by two shots with two holes to go before finishing third, Romero made no mistake this time, closing with a two-under-par 70 at Gut Kaden.
His total of 19-under 269 was three strokes better than Denmark's Soren Hansen and Briton Oliver Wilson.
The swashbuckling style of 26-year-old Romero, which in the end cost him dearly at Carnoustie, was again in evidence as he collected three birdies in the first four holes to extend his two-shot overnight margin over the field.
Five shots ahead coming to the turn, though, Romero sent his approach from the rough into the pond at the ninth to double bogey and finally erred on the side of caution to coast home, enhancing his win by holing a birdie putt from 25 feet on the last.
Hansen, whose 64 was only bettered by Romero's 63 yesterday, set the target, matched by Wilson's 66.
Romero was expected to be given a test by the only man who had really stayed with him in the third round, Zane Scotland, but the Englishman slipped down the finishing field after finding heavy rough on the seventh and triple bogeying.
The US$830,000 ($1,072,210) first prize sees Romero replace compatriot Angel Cabrera, the US Open champion, in fifth place on the European moneylist, a climb of 13 places.
With US$1.4 million earned in just a week, Romero, the 15th first-time winner on the European Tour this season, moves into the world's top 30 with this victory.
It rubber-stamped his place in the final major in a fortnight, the PGA Championship, and earned him a world golf championship (WGC) debut in next week's Bridgestone Invitational.
Romero was showered in champagne and beer by delighted compatriots after his stunning birdie at the last hole.
"The British Open changed my life last week and this is now a lot to take in," Romero said.
"The key this week was my putting but after I double bogeyed the ninth I played conservatively.
"I owe a lot to Angel (Cabrera). After he won the US Open it opened doors and gave me confidence to play good golf."
Romero also paid tribute to veteran Eduardo Romero, another player who has helped nurture his career and with whom he shares a manager having, as a seven-year-old, begged for balls and tee-pegs from his mentor.
"I love the way Eduardo and Angel play and how they don't change," added Romero, who intends to approach the next two weeks in his usual carefree manner.
"I hope I can be the same."
- REUTERS
