Golf: Swede in sudden-death glory

Sweden’s Carl Pettersson today won his first European Tour title in a sudden-death play-off with David Gilford in the Algarve Open de Portugal.

Pettersson parred the first extra-hole to win and prevent the former Ryder Cup player from regaining the title he won, also in a play-off, in 1993.

Mansfield’s Greg Owen, Spain’s Miguel Angel Martin and Swede Henrik Nystrom shared third place on one under par at Vale do Lobo.

Pettersson and Gilford both found the 18th fairway in sudden-death, but after the Swede had fired a six-iron onto the putting surface, Gilford pulled his five-iron approach over the back of the green.

The 36-year-old former cattle farmer from Crewe was left with a difficult shot from a heavy lie and could only pitch out to 25 feet, and when he missed the par putt Pettersson safely two-putted for victory.

‘‘It all happened so quickly after we were hanging about all day,’’ said Pettersson, who is still based in North Carolina where he attended college. ‘‘I don’t think it has sunk in yet.

‘‘It was nice to at least get the play-off in because I like those situations to test myself and see how you perform. I was very nervous, the most nervous I’ve ever been on a golf course, but I handled it well.

‘‘It’s my fourth top-five this year and you need to get up there to feel what it’s like and how to control your emotions and your swing. It showed I can handle the pressure.’’

Pettersson and Gilford had finished tied on two under par after the first two rounds were finally completed at 2pm on Saturday afternoon.

The intention was then to reduce the tournament to 54 holes and play the final 18 on Sunday, but heavy rain overnight and more blustery wind meant only 35 minutes play was possible.

‘‘I had a feeling it was going to be a play-off as soon as I opened my curtains this morning and saw it was still windy,’’ added Pettersson, 24, a former European amateur champion.

‘‘I got to the course about 10am and just sat around talking to Jarmo Sandelin, Mikael Lundberg and Olle Karlsson, my good friends on tour. I’m pretty good at relaxing. I’m extremely lazy.’’

The decision was eventually made to reduce the event to 36 holes - with 75% of the original prize money awarded and a play-off was required on the 18th hole to decide the winner, only the second time in European Tour history that an event shortened to 36 holes had to be decided in such a way.

Six other events have been shortened to 36 holes but the first time a play-off was required was in the Celtic Manor Wales Open last year, when Paul McGinley triumphed over Paul Lawrie and Daren Lee on the fifth extra hole to effectively seal his Ryder Cup place.

‘‘This is the best finish I’ve had for two or three years so I can’t be too disappointed really,’’ said Gilford, who finished 144th on the Order of Merit last year and only kept his card by virtue of being in the top 40 on the European Tour’s career money list.

‘‘I would have probably taken second if you’d offered it to me at the start of the week. I’m not disappointed with that but I’d have liked longer to practice to be honest.

‘‘Ten minutes isn’t really enough because it’s always going to be a little bit hit and miss in a play-off, it’s 50-50. We were hanging about all day and were rushed a bit in the end really, but it was the same for Carl.’’