Twelve years after he beat him in a play-off for the Scottish Amateur Stroke Play title, Alastair Forsyth once again got the better of Hennie Otto in an extra hole drama to win the Madeira Islands Open BPI – Portugal title.
On a thrilling final day at Santo da Serra where the golf was as hot as the fog and rain which periodically interrupted play was cold, Forsyth grabbed his second European Tour title with a birdie three at the first extra hole after both players had ended the tournament on 15 under par 273.
It was a huge difference to their first play-off meeting in the amateur ranks which took place at Cardross in 1996 and which went to nine extra holes before the Scot triumphed. But it did continue Forsyth’s exemplary play-off record – for his maiden European Tour title in 2002 also came in extra holes when he beat Stephen Leaney to win the Malaysian Open.
For Forsyth it was further proof that the work he continues to do with Bob Torrance – coach to the reigning Open Champion Padraig Harrington amongst others – is moving his game in the right direction despite his worst start to a season on The European Tour; ie missing his first five cuts of the year before this week.
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