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Wallace's Nerve
Wallace opted to putt through the fairway rough, along the slope between him and the green, but he didn't get very close. He still had about 10 feet to go.
Pressure on beef grows
On the par-3 final hole, Johnston hit his approach to 20 feet on the 186-yard hole. Garcia-Heredia was far from the green, just across from it.
Finally, Wallace was just left of the green. This was likely par. Johnston almost had the advantage.
Wallace birdies the ball
Wallace gently hit the ball out of the mouth of the fairway, just a few feet away from the fairway, and could easily make a birdie putt.
But what a response Johnston had! After a disappointing chip shot, he was about 12 feet away, but Biff aggressively hit his birdie putt right in the middle of the hole. Johnston's courage was unmatched.
Garcia-Heredia was not to be outdone, he hit the ball from the bunker, just over the hole, and made a birdie! The level of the last group of players is really good.
Beef with birdie, Wallace with birdie 👀The lead is still two… #OEM2024 pic.twitter.com/y7cbVJF9gJSeptember 8, 2024
Medium approach shot
Garcia-Heredia was in a bunker on the right side of the fairway when he used some kind of hybrid club to slam the ball toward the pin. It sounds incredible, but he was a little unlucky because he hit the bunker on the edge of the green.
Johnston was right of the green and faced a fairly simple chip uphill after hitting an iron, while Wallace's second shot just missed left and he chipped awkwardly from the edge of the rough. The hole was high, inside 20 feet, but it was all about what kind of shot the leaders could make.
Four holes to play
I must say that the sound of a golf ball being hit by a driver in the mountains of Kleins-sur-Schörer is one of the most beautiful sounds in the sport. It is incredible.
The last group was one shot behind on the 15th. It was a 566-yard par-5 that was right in front of you. The challenge for Wallace was growing. He had to remember that his fate was still in his own hands. It wasn't easy, especially when your lead had been cut in half and you hadn't won in more than six years.
Wallace leads by 2 points
Biff attempted an eagle shot about 20 feet from the fairway, hitting it downhill to the left, but it rolled over. But it didn't matter because he holed a birdie on his return and got to 9 under.
Alfredo Garcia-Heredia was next, but his eagle putt came up just short. He also finished at -9.
Wallace didn't seem to learn much from Johnston and missed his birdie shot. However, like Johnston, Wallace found no problem with the hole on the way back.
The clerk responded
Jason Scrivener got back into that mix at -8 after a six on the par-5 15th, followed by a birdie. The Australian finished the day at three under.
Johnston expected to win Eagles
Biff has 161 left. Remember, this hole is 550 yards… He hits his 9-iron high, but it's still 20 feet from the hole. Still, it's an eagle opportunity, and it should cut into Wallace's lead.
The leader hit his third shot from the fairway, about the same distance, nearly hitting Johnston's ball as it flew back.
Wallace in Trouble
Johnston would have absolutely won the 550-yard par 5 with one shot. If he had hit it close, it could have been his chance for eagle. And it shouldn't have been too far, since the ball hit the downhill and then slid far down the fairway.
Meanwhile, Wallace hits the ball to his left, and if there is no gap, he may cut sideways…
He did kind of hit it… but it wasn’t pretty. The Englishman just slammed the fairway. He could still make five shots from there. That’s good, especially considering the direction of his tee shot.
Just like you
Garcia-Heredia was the farthest away, right on the green but opposite the pin. He hit one from 50 feet and it landed in putting range. That was really good. Biff's next shot was a little closer, and he was a foot or two away.
Wallace was next out despite being last. He was so nervous coming back. But he was so determined, Wallace. The ball just slid off the left edge. Par. Par. Par. Same as you.
Meanwhile, Cedric Gugler hit another birdie to join three others at eight under. He played really well today. He's been playing really well all week.
Final Group Safety Match
After the final three players all made par on the 12th hole, they came to the par 3 13th hole. It is a 181-yard downhill hole, but the pin is in front and there is a huge lake guarding the left front. As predicted, they all retired far to the right of the pin. It was a smart play, especially because there were several par 5 holes to come…
Final Round Updates
Wallace started Sunday with a four-shot lead and played very solid golf through the first 11 holes, still holding a three-shot lead at 11 under.
The match had just been delayed about 30 minutes because of thick cloud cover on the 12th tee, which didn't help Wallace, who wanted to finish this match as quickly as possible.
Andrew “Beef” Johnston, one of two players in second place at -8, is still looking to get his first win since 2016. But he needs some birdies and the holes are running out fast.
One shot behind, Switzerland's Cedric Gugler needed a solo second-place finish today to secure a spot on the DP World Tour in 2025. Otherwise, his campaign will continue into the final weeks.
Current situation: 😶🌫️#OEM2024 pic.twitter.com/09Hfh6i6dJSeptember 8, 2024
Hello everyone, welcome to Golf Monthly's coverage of the European Masters finals held at Crans-Sussère Golf Club in Crans-Montana, Switzerland.
The leaders had just begun their back nine in the mountains, with Matt Wallace three shots ahead of Andrew Johnston, both chasing their first DP World Tour victory since at least 2018. Wallace captured the Made in Denmark six years ago, while Johnston's last title was at the 2016 Spanish Open.
Meanwhile, local favourite Cedric Gugler needed to finish second alone to earn a spot on the DP World Tour next season. It was a tough race this afternoon.
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