Payne made to wait for second title
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
Jim Payne, who less than two years ago thought he might never play golf again after a spinal fusion operation, won the Italian Open when he shot two successive rounds of 67 to finish with a nine-under-par aggregate of 275 at Bergamo yesterday.
But before he won the title - his second success on the European Tour - Payne had to wait for more than an hour before knowing he had beaten Sweden's Patrik Sjoland by one shot and Lee Westwood, Jonathan Lomas and Spaniard Miguel Angel Jimenez by two.
Two rounds had to be played yesterday after the bad weather on the first two days and the Lincolnshire-based Payne began the third round in joint- 22nd place with 13 other players.
After his third round 67, he moved up to joint sixth, but was still six shots behind Westwood, the 23-year-old Worksop golfer. Then, when he completed his second 67, he was still three shots off the lead.
As 26-year-old Payne reached the clubhouse, Westwood was on 12 under par, two shots clear of Sjoland, but then had a disastrous four over par eight at the 431-yard 12th hole.
Sjoland then led on 10 under par for one hole, but had a bogey five at the 14th to be level with Payne on nine under. Westwood birdied the 16th to also go to nine under.
It left both Westwood and Sjoland needing par fours at the last hole to force a play-off with Payne but both failed, Westwood having a double- bogey six and Sjoland a bogey five after both had missed the green.
"Now I have won the tournament I have a two-year exemption on the Tour and that is the best news I could possibly have had, '' Payne said. ''When I had my operation in September, 1994, I did not know if I would ever be able to play at this level again.''
Join our commenting forum
Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies
Comments