Play-off heartache for Lawrie

HISTORY repeated itself in extraordinary fashion last night as England’s Simon Dyson won the KLM Open in Holland for the second time in four years – squeezing out Ireland’s Peter Lawrie.

Just as he did on the same Kennemer course in 2006, Dyson sank an 18-foot birdie putt on the first hole of a sudden death play-off.

Last time it was to beat Australian Richard Green and this time it was to defeat Dubliner Lawrie and Swede Peter Hedblom.

Dyson had been six strokes behind Hedblom with a round to play, but equalled the course record with a dazzling seven-under-par 63 for a 15-under total of 265 that matched the lowest of the European Tour season.

Lawrie led by one at that stage, but bogeyed the 16th and then Hedblom hit the flagstick with his tee shot to the 170-yard 17th and stopped two feet away.

After they had both parred the last, the trio returned to the final hole, but Hedblom went over the green and bogeyed, while Lawrie was studying a five-foot par putt when Dyson struck.

It was the 31-year-old’s first title since the same event and it earned him a career-high cheque for more than £257,000 (€294,000). There was one great difference from three years ago, though. Dyson could not fully celebrate on that occasion because it was the day Darren Clarke’s wife Heather lost her battle with cancer.

Clarke had been the defending champion this week and very nearly was involved in the play-off as well.

Two birdie putts hung on the lip of the hole at the fourth and 18th, but by staying out, he finished joint fifth with Welshman Jamie Donaldson one behind another Irishman, Damien McGrane.

Hedblom had led by two overnight, but managed “only” a 69 and has now lost all four play-offs he has been in.

Lawrie will feel the title should have been his. He chose an iron for safety off the tee at the 473-yard 16th, but made a complete hash of it and did well in the end to drop only one shot there. He was round in 67, but he had opened the door and Dyson stepped in – again.

lDes Smyth birdied three holes in succession while Eamonn Darcy snatched an eagle for the Irish pair to finish tied but well down the board on the final day of Scottish Seniors Open at St Andrews. However the fireworks unleashed by Smyth and Darcy in steady rain was all too late for the duo who carded respective final rounds of 70 and 69 to end with two over par totals on the Fairmont course at St Andrews Bay. England’s Glenn Ralph, 53, captured his first-ever Tour win since turning pro in 1973 to capture the title by a stroke with a last day 70 for an eight-under par total.