Last-hole jitters for Van De Velde

JEAN Van de Velde savoured a rare victory on the European Tour by winning the Madeira Island Open yesterday.

But the man who famously lost the British Open at Carnoustie in 1999 made it hard for himself, shooting a double-bogey six at the last after a poor chip from the back of the green.

Van de Velde finished the day on 68 and a four-round total of 273, 15 under, with Lee Slattery one shot back after a superb 66.

The 39-year-old Frenchman insisted he had remained calm at the final hole.

“My nerves were not playing up. That’s the thing with getting older. I made the walk up the last an interesting one, that’s all,” he said.

“I hit my three-wood into the rough and then found the nastiest patch of grass on the course at the back of the green. The only problem was if I duffed my shot again but that was not going to happen.

“What happened many years ago (at Carnoustie) was freak circumstances. That kind of thing is not going to happen twice.”

Van de Velde’s last victory on the European Tour came in the 1993 Roma Masters. Since then he has struggled for form and fitness with a knee injury hampering his progress.

But the overnight leader set a fierce early pace yesterday, going out in 31 with six birdies and one bogey and was never caught.

“I played really well and hit great shots one after another.

“When I hit a seven-iron at the 17th and saw it fly, I knew it was going my way. I could not have dreamt of making a better start to the year. My life has been blessed in the past few months,” a thrilled Van de Velde said.

Slattery edged out Spaniard Pedro Linhart for runners-up spot after holing a long birdie putt at the last.

It was just the boost Slattery needed following a difficult time which saw him lose his card almost as quickly as he gained it. He stormed to the Challenge Tour title in 2004 after giving up his job in a clothes shop but he found it difficult at a higher level last year and is working his way back.

Slattery said: “This is just what I need to get my confidence up. I am also made up for my mum and dad. They have given me a lot of good advice and told me to keep my chin up. One thing for certain is I will not be going back to working in the shop. What it taught me was to work harder on my game.”