American David Lipsky eyes a DP World Tour Championship berth with Swiss win
America’s David Lipsky gave himself a great chance of qualifying for the season-ending DP World Tour Championship, Dubai as he defeated overnight leader Graeme Storm in a play-off to win the Omega European Masters.
The 26-year-old from Los Angeles leapfrogs from 185th to 51st place in The Race to Dubai rankings and is now only a few good finishes away from securing his place in November’s season finale at Jumeirah Golf Estates.
“It feels great,” said Lipsky, who also moved inside the top 150 of the Official World Golf Ranking with the win. “I’ve played well the last couple of weeks and to put it all together is really something special.”
Extra holes were needed after Lipsky and Storm both finished the tournament at 18-under-par 262 on what was another stunning day at the Crans-sur-Sierre Golf Club in Switzerland.
In the ensuing play-off both players found trouble off the tee but in the end it was Lipsky who played an exquisite chip shot to give himself a two-foot putt for par and the win while Storm couldn’t recover, carding a bogey five.
Lipsky qualified to play in the tournament through the Asian Tour rankings as a result of the event being co-sanctioned by the European and Asian Tours since 2008. His maiden European Tour triumph also means that he becomes the first man from the United States to win the European Masters since Craig Stadler won it 29 years ago.
With the win, the Korean speaker gains a two-year exemption on The European Tour and will be able to compete until 2016.
Runner-up Storm, whose only win on The European Tour came in 2007 at the Open de France ALSTOM, took a one shot lead heading into the final round and was left with a ten foot putt for par on the last hole of regulation to force a play-off.
“It was obviously disappointing, but overall it’s been an unbelievable week,” Storm said. “There a lot of emotions flying round right now so I’ll have to reflect with a clear head in the morning, but there are definitely lots of positives to take from the week.”
The Englishman now moves from 159 to 64 in The Race to Dubai rankings and has a fighting chance to qualify for the DP World Tour Championship.
Another American, Brooks Koepka, shot a final round score of 67 to finish just one shot behind the leaders and in a tie for third place with Tyrell Hatton.
Koepka, who won three events in last year’s Challenge Tour season and gained automatic promotion by finishing third on the 2013 Challenge Tour Rankings, now sits in 34th place in The Race to Dubai rankings.
Hatton meanwhile jumps up 12 places in the rankings from 52nd to 40th and with €543,376 in prize money is now almost certain to play in the DP World Tour Championship.
The European Tour’s season-ending DP World Tour Championship, Dubai will take place at the Jumeirah Golf Estates’ Earth Course from Thursday 20 to Sunday November 23.
The top 10 European Tour Race to Dubai Rankings as of 8 September:
Rory MCILROY €5,120,709
Sergio GARCIA €2,275,712
Jamie DONALDSON €1,774,445
Thomas BJORN €1,773,501
Henrik STENSON €1,691,231
Martin KAYMER €1,570,937
Justin ROSE €1,503,781
Victor DUBUISSON €1,458,102
Stephen GALLACHER €1,406,033
Louis OOSTHUIZEN €1,226,249
