A new champion was formally acknowledged in bright sunshine at Montecastillo yesterday, when Miguel Angel Jimenez shot a blistering final round of 65 to capture the Volvo Masters.
It was a marvellous occasion for the delighted Spaniards who also thrilled to the exploits of the winner's playing partner, Sergio Garcia.
But the Irish also finished strongly. Padraig Harrington sank an 18-foot birdie on the final hole to give him a share of second place with Bernhard Langer and Retief Goosen. Then came defending champion, Darren Clarke, with a closing 66 to be tied fifth with Garcia, while Paul McGinley also had his best round of the tournament with a 68 for a share of 32nd place (£8,250).
After a dispiriting 73 on Saturday, Harrington set off yesterday in the knowledge that he needed at least a closing 65 to secure this coveted crown. As it happened he shot a 67. And the two-shot disparity proved to be the gap which separated Jimenez at the top of the leaderboard.
"I feel a great satisfaction in being the first Spaniard to win the Volvo Masters," said Jimenez afterwards. "It makes me very proud." The 35-year-old resident of Malaga went on: "I am also very happy to win here with all my friends and family - and with half of Churriana (the village where he was born)."
After breaking 70 in each of the first three rounds, Jimenez was level with Harrington on 12-under-par and four strokes behind the leader, Goosen, overnight. But he began his surge to victory by holing an 25-foot birdie putt on the eighth and then adding a two-putt birdie at the next to move to 15-under-par entering the homeward journey.
Further birdies at the 12th and 14th brought him level with Goosen in the group behind him. And he then went clear of the South African by sinking a 10-foot birdie putt at the difficult 15th, before increasing his lead by getting up and down for another birdie at the long 16th. After that, he had only to mind his business for victory.
Yet, down the 18th, he appeared to take an unnecessary risk by hitting his approach to a dangerously tight pin, close to the water's edge. "I wanted to hit the right shot, rather than the safe one," he said, by way of emphasising his new-found golfing philosophy.
The strain of leadership from a 62 on the opening day weighed heavily on Goosen during a highly-competitive climax to a tournament characterised by remarkably low scoring. After an outward 35, his challenge took a nose-dive when he missed the 10th green for a bogey and he later dropped another by three-putting the long 16th.
Superb short-iron play set up birdies for Harrington at the third and fifth, but he sprang into contention in earnest at the long ninth, where he holed a 20-yard chip for an eagle three. This brought his haul from the par fives to an admirable 12-under-par over the four days.
When he needed more birdies on the homeward journey, however, they never materialised. Instead, he found himself having to hole a 10-footer to save par at the 13th and a 15-footer for another par at the 15th. Meanwhile, his chance of an anticipated birdie at the long 12th fell victim to an extremely difficult, double-breaking putt of six feet. And a drive into right rough at the long 16th, placed the green out of reach.
But he finished most impressively. Taking a three-wood off the elevated tee so as to get as far down the 18th fairway as was prudent, he hit a sandwedge approach to 18 feet behind the hole and then eased home the putt for a closing birdie. It made a difference of £24,000 to his weekend's pay.
Towards the end of what has been a decidedly difficult season for him, Clarke had reason to feel satisfied with his overall performance. After two middle rounds of 70, his change of fortune was helped by a switch to a blade putter which helped in delivering six birdies in a bogey-free round.
"This is a terrific lift before the coming tournament at Valderrama," he said. "I didn't play particularly well here and found myself hitting away from several flags. But my confidence began to return as the round progressed."
McGinley, who was among those who started on the 10th, reaped the sort of back-nine dividend Harrington could have used, with two-putt birdies at the 12th and 16th and another at the treacherous 15th. "It was probably the best I played tee to green all year," he said.
He added: "This week has been a sprint whereas I was playing at marathon pace. Essentially, it was all to do with putting, but I'm determined to be patient."
Finally, not every Spaniard was celebrating yesterday. Reigning US Masters champion Jose-Maria Olazabal was forced to withdraw from the final round because of a damaged back. "When hitting my three wood on the practice ground, I felt a wrench in the small of my back. Then it seized up," he said. He spent the day watching on TV.
