‘The Bull’ charges to take second European tour title as Harrington runner-up for 20th time

THE big-hitting Argentinian golfer known as “The Bull” charged to his second European tour title yesterday.

Ricardo Gonzalez, 34 last Friday, came from six strokes behind to win the Telefonica Madrid Open at Club de Campo by one with a closing 65.

England’s Paul Casey, four clear overnight, Pádraig Harrington, Australian left-hander Nick O’Hern and Swede Marten Olander all failed to grab the birdie at the 349-yard 18th which would have forced a play-off.

Harrington, twice a winner on the course, also produced a 65, but paid for missing putts of six and 18 feet on the final two greens.

It was the 20th runners-up finish of his career, but it was Casey who felt worst about just missing out. The 26-year-old had led from the time he opened with an eight under par 63 on Thursday, but bogeys at the seventh, ninth and 11th during a heavy downpour cost him dear.

As Casey was doing that, Gonzalez was completing a marvellous run of eight birdies in 12 holes from the fourth. That swept the 2001 European Masters champion two in front, although he opened the door again by failing to get up and down from a greenside bunker at the last. Nobody was able to take advantage, though.

Gonzalez, 87th on the Order of Merit going into the week, collected the £162,288 (€235,000) first prize with a 14 under par total of 270.

Harrington, out in 31 and then leader by one after a birdie at the long 14th, commented: “I didn’t know I was out in front, but I didn’t convert a couple of good shots at the end.

“I hit a bad putt on 17, but I was surprised to be long on the last. Six under is a good last round, though, and at the start of the day I didn’t think I had a chance.” He was seven behind Casey.

Sergio Garcia, watched by Real Madrid star Ronaldo as he tried for his first victory of the year, needed to birdie one of the last two for a play-off, but instead bogeyed them and ended up joint sixth.

Gonzalez, who after his run of birdies sank a vital 30-foot par putt on the 16th, said: “After three-putting the second I thought the tournament was over. I was seven behind and the will had left me. I didn’t have any motivation, but then I started to play well, the door was opened and the light switched on for me.”

Earlier, Ian Poulter and Lee Westwood, fourth and fifth on this year’s European Order of Merit, both pulled out.

Poulter, last after a third round 76, did not hit another shot, complaining of a wrist injury.

Westwood, joint 60th overnight, played two holes and birdied the second of them, but decided not to go on because of a neck strain.

Although the Madrid Open was the final qualifying event for the Seve Trophy match in Valencia on November 6-9, Britain and Ireland captain Colin Montgomerie still does not know whether he will have Darren Clarke in his line-up.

Clarke is currently in position to earn a place in the US Tour’s season-ending Tour Championship, but could be knocked out this week.

Swindon’s David Howell, who missed the last match after breaking his arm in a fall while jogging, is on stand-by, although Montgomerie also has to name a wild card yet.

Seve Ballesteros has named his old Ryder Cup partner Jose Maria Olazabal as his wild card pick.

“I chose him because he is a great champion.”

CONTINENTAL EUROPE: Seve Ballesteros (captain), Thomas Bjorn, Fredrik Jacobson, Sergio Garcia, Alex Cejka, Ignacio Garrido, Raphael Jacquelin, Niclas Fasth, Miguel Angel Jimenez. Wild card: Jose Maria Olazabal

BRITAIN AND IRELAND: Colin Montgomerie (captain), Darren Clarke, Padraig Harrington, Paul Casey, Justin Rose, Ian Poulter, Lee Westwood, Phillip Price, Brian Davis. Wild card: to be named.