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SPORTS Monday 2 SepteMber 2019
Soderberg wins 5-man playoff for European Masters title

CRANS-MONTANA, Swit- leaderboard with five
zerland (AP) — In a five- straight birdies from the
man playoff for the Euro- 10th. At the 17th, he stood
pean Masters title on Sun- over a five-footer for birdie
day, Sebastian Soderberg seconds after playing part-
sank his birdie putt on the ners McIlroy and Gagli sank
first extra hole when Rory theirs to move within one
McIlroy and others could shot. Soderberg took three
not. putts, then missed a birdie
History repeated itself for chance on the final hole.
McIlroy at the Crans-sur- “I thought I had it,” Soder-
Sierre club in the Swiss Alps, berg said, recalling his first
where he lost a playoff as a putt for victory. “I literally
19-year-old in 2008. couldn’t hold the putter still
“Too many mistakes,” said so I was just happy I gave it
McIlroy, who came to the a good try.”
Swiss Alps for his seventh After pushing his tee shot
event in eight weeks direct wide right into the trees,
from securing the FedEx McIlroy was looking at the
Cup last Sunday. “Play- Winner Sebastian Soderberg of Sweden poses with the trophy during an award ceremony after plaque in honor of a sto-
ing that much, sometimes the final round of the European Masters golf tournament in Crans-Montana, Switzerland, Sunday, ried Ballesteros shot from
these mental errors creep September 1, 2019. that spot in 1993. Instead,
in.” Associated Press McIlroy chipped out on the
Soderberg seemed to of his third round on the (Saturday) probably cost three shots late in his third fairway, hit his approach to
waste his best chance of Sunday morning. me,” said second-ranked round. within two feet, and calmly
victory on the 17th green, “The sloppy finish yesterday McIlroy, who dropped Soderberg soared up the made par.q
three-putting from five feet
to fall into a share of the
lead at 14 under.
The 28-year-old Swede
carded a 4-under 66 for
a 266 total, alongside his
playing partners McIlroy
(67) and Lorenzo Gagli
(67), and soon joined by
Kalle Samooja (67) and
third-round leader Andres
Romero (70).
Playing the par-4 18th as
the first extra hole, the for-
mer Coastal Carolina Uni-
versity student Soderberg
was the only player to stay
on the fairway. McIlroy
pushed his tee shot left into
the spectators.
Soderberg made his putt
from about eight feet be-
fore McIlroy and Samooja
missed from closer range.
It was a first title for So-
derberg, whose winner’s
check almost doubled his
career winnings on the Eu-
ropean Tour. It also secured
his Tour card through 2021.
“It’s going to change your
life going forward,” said
Soderberg, who acknowl-
edged shaking with the
tension when he led on the
back nine of the Severiano
Ballesteros course. “I was
way more calm in the play-
off than I was in my last few
holes.”
McIlroy played more than
18 holes for the second
straight Sunday. One week
earlier, he won the weath-
er-affected Tour Champi-
onship after playing most