Crans Montana, Switzerland: American David Lipsky became the first player from the Asian Tour to win the €2.3 million (about US$3 million) Omega European Masters when he pipped England’s Graeme Storm to the title at the first play-off hole.
With his maiden Tour win in 2012 also coming through a play-off, the 26-year-old Korean-American was confident he could prevail again after he closed with a five-under-par 65 for a four-day total of 18-under 262.
“My first play-off win in Cambodia gave me lots of confidence and I’m glad I brought that along with me today. Graeme played great today but the difference was that I was able to see it through on the last hole,” said Lipsky.
No player from the Asian Tour had previously won the Omega European Masters since it became a co-sanctioned event with the European Tour in 2009.
As the only joint-sanctioned event to be held on European soil for the Asian Tour, the last five editions saw several near-misses, including a fourth-placed finish for Korean Noh Seung-yul in 2010.
Lipsky’s win has now placed him as the first Tour member to reign supreme at the Swiss showpiece which will extend its partnership with the Asian Tour as its sanctioning partner in 2015.
“It’s a very special feeling to be the first player from the Asian Tour to win here. I was playing in Europe the last three weeks and was in good form. I’m just happy to be able to put it all together here,” said Lipsky.
Teeing-off against the majestic backdrop of the Swiss Alps at the first play-off hole, Lipsky decided to play it safe by playing for a par after overnight leader Storm had failed to recover from a wayward tee shot which missed the fairway and landed against a wall.
Lipsky opted to lay-up instead of attacking the pin and it was a decision which paid off handsomely as he would go on to chip it close to the pin before a simple putt sealed his victory.
Although denied victory, Storm remained upbeat. He said: “It was obviously disappointing, but overall it’s been an unbelievable week. There are 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.”