James edges out Norman in play-off

Golf

Who said golf was now a young man's game? This might be the Tiger Woods era, but the Peugeot Spanish Open here turned into a battle royal between 42-year-old Greg Norman and Mark James, 43. James it was who proved he had the greater stamina by claiming his first victory for two years at the third extra hole of a sudden-death play-off yesterday.

The Bald Eagle and the Shark twice halved in pars at the 18th before venturing back to the short 17th. Neither threatened the flag with their tee shots, but while Norman left his chip from a nasty lie in the rough 10 feet short, James putted up from the front fringe to three feet.

The Englishman had led by two, playing the last in regulation, but had first taken a bogey at the 18th with three putts and then seen the Australian hole from 24 feet for a birdie to tie him on 11 under. Norman holed from 10 feet at the same green on the first extra hole to keep himself in the play-off, but missed a chance to end proceedings the second time around from six feet and now missed again. James, who discarded his broomhandle putter earlier in the year, could not have been more relieved when he holed his short putt for the victory.

James, now fifth on the money list and 18th in the Ryder Cup standings, almost totally lost his game after featuring in Europe's win in 1995. "I don't feel my nerve has gone and I keep my myself fit, but you can get lost mentally and technically and, as you get older, there is less inclination to work your butt off to get it back," he said.

"This win means a huge amount to me. It puts me in line for an exemption to the Open and in with a chance of qualifying for the Ryder Cup team. "I have an outside chance of at least threatening for a spot now and it should also get me into the Open. I haven't had to qualify since 1976. But it also gives me more confidence in my ability which I was beginning to doubt last year. The greens got very fast and slopey, almost Augusta- like, and to putt as well as I did on them was miraculous.''

Norman, who has lost play-offs in all four major championships, also lost out to his countryman Richard Green in extra time in Dubai last month. He continued to have problems on the La Moraleja greens but holed from off the putting surface at the 11th for an eagle to pull level with James.

The next par-five, the 16th, gave James an edge when he pitched to four feet and holed for a birdie, while Norman just missed from 20 feet. At the 17th, James again holed from four feet to save par, but saw his approach putt at the last trickle six feet left of the hole.

In the group behind, Norman pushed his tee shot at the 17th right of the green, an old failing of his under pressure. As would happen later on, he failed to get up and down and so needed the birdie at the last to prevent sharing second place with Eduardo Romero and Jarmo Sandelin, who closed with a 66.

Neither the Englishman nor the Australian, who nevertheless regained his world No 1 position, could raise the loudest cheer of the day, which the locals saved for a piece of magic from one of their own. It had come much earlier when Seve Ballesteros holed his approach shot, a wedge from 118 yards, at the last. Seve doffed his visor to his adoring faithful. "It was spectacular. It leaves a good taste in my mouth," said Ballesteros, whose 69 was his first sub-70 round of the year.