MUNICH – Argentina’s Andres Romero snatched a surprise victory at the BMW International Open on Sunday with a blistering finish, firing a final round of 65 to finish a shot clear of US Masters champion Sergio Garcia.
Romero, playing on a sponsor’s invitation, recorded his first win on the European Tour for a decade thanks to his 7-under-par final round, sinking five birdies over the last eight holes to finish at 17-under.
“I am satisfied. After 10 years, winning on the tour again is great,” said the 36-year-old Romero, who had not won any tournament since a triumph on the US Tour in New Orleans nine years ago.
“I felt a bit funny on the 18th hole because I have not been in that position for a long time, and I looked up at the leaderboard. I was a little nervous, but I ended up doing it well.”
Garcia, Briton Richard Bland and Belgium’s Thomas Detry finished in a three-way tie for second place on 16-under.
Champion. 🏆
Congratulations @piguromero, the 2017 #BMWInternationalOpen champion. pic.twitter.com/nZ08YMjKIH
— The European Tour (@EuropeanTour) June 25, 2017
Spaniard Garcia, in his first appearance in Europe since his first major triumph in April, had started the day as joint leader along with Bland.
Despite a rocky start on Sunday with a bogey at the first hole, Garcia, who waited nearly two decades to notch his maiden major at Augusta, upped his game and hit a fine second shot on the third to rejoin the lead.
Yet Romero birdied the eighth and ninth holes to work his way into contention and launch his extraordinary finish of seven birdies over the last 11 holes.
South Africa’s Hennie Otto ended tied for eighth on 12-under, five behind the champion Romero.