Sun Jul 6 13:26:00 2008

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Fisher cruises to second European Tour win

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Ash, England (Sports Network) - Ross Fisher's biggest challenge came from the rain, not the field, as he closed with a four-under 68 on Sunday to win the European Open by seven shots.

Fisher played most of the round in a pesky rain, but finished in the sunshine with a hole-out birdie from a bunker beside the 18th green for a runaway victory over world No. 8 Sergio Garcia.

It was the 27-year-old Englishman's second European Tour win and first since last year's KLM Open. He claimed it in wire-to-wire fashion after opening with a course-record 63 at London Golf Club on Thursday, finishing at 20-under-par 268.

"Delighted," Fisher said afterward, his victory having long been locked up.

On a day when several of the top contenders posted big numbers in wet conditions, Garcia went low to emerge as Fisher's closest challenger. The talented Spaniard fired a six-under 66 to move up from a tie for seventh place overnight into solo second at 13-under 275.

Only two more players finished within 10 shots of Fisher.

Graeme McDowell, playing with Fisher in the final pairing after trailing him by three strokes overnight, posted a one-over 73 and took third place at 12- under 276.

David Frost managed a modest one-under 71 and finished alone in fourth place at 11-under 277. Soren Hansen (73) ended four shots further back at seven- under 281.

Colin Montgomerie, the eight-time Order of Merit champion and last year's European Open winner, sputtered to a 77 in the final round and fell 19 shots off Fisher's pace at one-under 287. He tied for 24th place.

Reigning British Open champion Padraig Harrington fared a little better, posting a 75 to end tied for 17th place at two-under 286.

But the round, and the tournament, belonged to Fisher.

He could hardly be blamed for his only bogey on Sunday, which came in the driving rain at the par-four second. Fisher joined many of the players and spectators in carrying an umbrella and wearing a rain jacket in the worst of the conditions.

"It was just a very tricky day," Fisher said.

He bounced back from his lone bogey in a big way, making an eagle at the par- five fifth to stretch his lead to eight shots. Seven consecutive pars followed until Fisher made a birdie at the 13th.

Fisher also birdied the 15th, then looked like he could do no better than an up-and-down par at the 18th. But his ball was sitting up in the bunker, and he holed a perfect sand shot for the closing birdie.

It was the ideal ending to a week that began with a trip to Wimbledon with his wife -- and no practice round.

"Pretty awesome," Fisher said. "I was just a great week."