PHILIP WALTON was left to rue his poor start in the Volvo Scandinavian Masters yesterday after finishing joint; seventh behind new champion Lee Westwood. The Malahide professional had a final round of 70 for a two under par 286, five shots behind the 23 year old former British Youths champion, who claimed his maiden European Tour success by beating rival Englishmen Paul Broadhurst and Russell Claydon in a play off.
West wood converted a 40 foot putt from off the green for a birdie three at the second extra hole, the 449 yard 18th, to scoop a first prize of £116,660 which clinched his debut in the Dunhill Cup at St Andrews in October. He is now fourth in the European rankings behind Colin Montgomerie with almost £270,000 to his credit.
The leading trio, who all shot 68, finished on 281, seven under par, which was precise what Walton shot for his final three rounds of 69-70-70 after starting with 77.
"It was frustrating to think of what might have been," said Walton, "but I am in good shape for the US PGA Championship in Kentucky this week. I am putting and driving nicely and looking forward to it."
Walton had four birdies in his first 15 holes yesterday, but lost a valuable stroke at the 17th when he hit an advertising sign with his third shot and ended with a bogey six. When he drove into a fairway bunker at the last it left him no opportunity to make a birdie response.
In fact, he had to work hard to finish with a par four, which he achieved by hitting a wedge shot of around 130 yards to within three feet of the flag.
But Walton can look forward optimistically to the coming week, and Padraig Harrington can go off on a week's holiday satisfied with a job well done. He finished joint 18th with John Daly on a level par 288, winning £8,230 to take his winnings in his first full season past £200,000.
With only two more tournaments, the Austrian Open and Czech Opens, before Ireland's Dunhill Cup team is finalised, Harrington is now certain of joining Westwood in a debut at the Old Course in October.
Harrington had the best possible start to his last round when he holed from 10 feet and three feet on the first two greens for birdies. But two under par was how he stayed.
Ronan Rafferty was 37th after a 72 for 292, (£4,620) with Francis Howley 50th (£2,940) after 74 for 294, and David Feherty 74th after his 74 for 299 (£1,032).
Daly also signed off with a two under par 70, although he finished with only 13 clubs in his bag because he had consigned his Wilson prototype titanium driver to a watery grave at the seventh in the course of taking a double bogey seven there.
The American had made an eagle three at the first par five, the fifth, after hitting the driver and his zero iron before chipping in from 40 yards. But in going for another big hit at the 583 yard seventh, he blocked his tee shot into heavy rough some 30 yards wide of the fairway.
From there he went into a bunker, and his third shot from the sand deposited his ball in the greenside pond. Daly threw his driver after it, sparking a scramble which resulted in a youth wading into the water to take possession of a souvenir worth a conservative £500.
"I tossed it in the pond so I wouldn't hit it again," said Daly. "I don't want to even see it any more. But I think I have sorted out my driving problems now. Look out for a new JD Killer Titanium in a couple of months time."
