Golf Hoch adds to Gallacher's cup fears
Your support helps us to tell the story
From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.
At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.
The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.
Your support makes all the difference.Golf
Scott Hoch took a shopping trip to Amsterdam to please his wife Sally and ended up with a cheque for pounds 108,330 after winning the Heineken Dutch Open in Hilversum yesterday.
Coming a week after the success of his American compatriot, John Daly, in the Open at St Andrews, it was not the news Europe's Ryder Cup captain, Bernard Gallacher, had wanted with the September match at Oak Hill looming.
Hoch finished with a 65 and a total of 269, 15 under par, two shots clear of Scotland's Sam Torrance and the tour rookie, Michael Jonzon of Sweden, who shared second place.
Derrick Cooper, from Warrington, had birdies at the last two holes to finish one stroke further back.
Torrance also picked up a shot at the 17th and came to the last needing a birdie to force a play-off with Hoch. But his second shot found sand and, although he reached the green, he could only two-putt for a share of second place.
The consolation for Torrance is that he now leads the European Tour Order of Merit having overtaken Germany's Bernhard Langer.
Torrance, the overnight leader, birdied the ninth to go 13 under but bogeys at the 11th and 13th proved costly. The Scotsman finished with a 70.
Jonzon, a graduate of the qualifying school last winter, moved to the top of the leaderboard for a time at 14 under. But the enormity of what was happening suddenly hit the 23-year-old Swede and he dropped shots at the 15th and 16th only to birdie the last.
Gallacher will also try to stay calm but the signs are not looking good for the European team. Colin Montgomerie had to settle for equal seventh after starting with a double-bogey six to finish with a level-par 71.
Ian Woosnam, who has indicated he will not keep playing in the hope of being selected, did not improve his chances, finishing joint 16th after shooting the same score as Montgomerie. It means he stays 11th in the Ryder Cup standings, just outside the selection zone.
Mark James finished on the same mark as Woosnam while another strong candidate, David Gilford, missed the cut.
Details, Sporting Digest, page 23
Join our commenting forum
Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies
Comments