World Golf News - 29 September 2011

On the US PGA Tour, an electric final round playoff saw Bill Haas lifting the trophy at the Tour Championship on Sunday. The event, which officially ends the 2011 season, came to a dramatic close on Sunday as Haas faced off against compatriot Hunter Mahan in three extra holes. At the third green, Haas made a four foot par putt that was good enough to trump Mahan's bogey.

Having held his nerve the entire day, Haas was clearly overjoyed as he celebrated his third career win on the US PGA Tour. The prize money of over $11 Million made Haas' victory the richest playoff wins in golfing history. Speaking to journalists after he had lifted the trophy, the champion recalled how nervous he was during the playoff. In the end however, his nerves held steady and saw him clear to an impressive victory.

In Europe, the Austrian Open was won by the Briton Kenneth Ferrie. In a final round playoff against fellow-Briton Simon Wakefield, Ferrie held steady to clinch his fifth career victory on the European Tour. Ferrie was last victorious on the tour when he won the 2005 European Open. Since then, he has been playing on the US PGA Tour as well as in several tournaments on home soil. JoostLuiten of the Netherlands came in third place behind Wakefield, with Denmark's Thomas Norret in fourth place. In women's golf, the European team weathered the odds to beat the United States 15-13 at the Solheim Cup held at Killeen Castle, Ireland.

In an impressive final round performance, the team from Europe managed to clinch the title with Alzahara Munoz of Spain scoring the decisive point when she beat America's Angela Stanford. This marks the first time since 2003 that the European team has lifted the Solheim Cup - a victory sure to be savoured on the continent.

Golfweather Editorial