Two years after he feared crippling vertigo might end his career altogether, Thomas Levet completed his golfing rehabilitation in style when he beat teenager Oliver Fisher in a sudden-death play-off to claim the MAPFRE Open de Andalucia by Valle Romano.
The 39 year old Frenchman’s never-say-die attitude saw him battle back to tie with the 19 year old Englishman on 16 under par 272, Fisher having looked favourite for his maiden title for most of the closing stages of an enthralling tournament.
But, standing on the 18th tee with a one shot lead, Fisher’s adrenalin-fuelled tee shot on the 448 yard hole found the water hazard to the left of the fairway and his resulting bogey five saw him end level with Levet after both men carded 67s.
Into the play-off on the 18th hole again and, understandably still thinking about his tee-shot of earlier, Fisher throttled back only this time to find the fairway bunker.
Having played out, his third shot flew over the putting surface and although he did well to pitch and putt for a second consecutive bogey five, Levet’s regulation par four was good enough to give him his fourth European Tour title, nearly four years after a stunning final round at Loch Lomond saw him win the 2004 Barclays Scottish Open.
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