Cevaer holds nerve to seal win

THIRTY-NINE year-old Frenchman Christian Cevaer held his head while all around were losing theirs to win the European Open by a shot from England’s Steve Webster, the Scot Gary Orr and Spain’s Alvaro Quiros at a sunny London Club yesterday.

Cevaer looked to have lost his chance when taking 39 to the turn but he came home in a faultless 35 for seven under par and that was enough to give him a second European Tour victory. He previously captured the Spanish Open in 2004 and since then he has played 141 tournaments, a gap of five years and 36 days. Prior to yesterday, his best finish this year was 31st in the Portuguese Open and it earned him a career best e341, 220 that moves him from 196th to 30th in the Race to Dubai European Tour order of merit.

You might not have expected a player with such a patchy record to stay cool under the enormous pressure that built up over the closing holes but the manner in which he tackled the dreaded 471 yards water strewn 18th demonstrated otherwise. It certainly proved too much for a whole host of contenders, not least Webster and Quiros, who were also seven under standing on the final tee.