Graeme Storm upsets Rory McIlroy in SA Open playoff

It seemed as though Graeme Storm had lost his European Tour card last season by the slimmest of margins, missing out on finishing inside the top 111 in the Race to Dubai in order to maintain status. The ramifications on his career would be huge.

Then, Patrick Reed, who has European Tour membership, decided not to play in the Turkish Airlines Open, leaving him short of the five European Tour-specific events required to be a member. All of a sudden, Storm had a reprieve, given his card back by sliding into the top 111.

Storm took full advantage of his career revival on Sunday, holding off Rory McIlroy on the third hole of a sudden-death playoff to win the BMW SA Open in South Africa.

Both Storm and McIlroy finished regulation at 18-under 270 at Glendower Golf Club, and they each made par 4s on the 18th hole during each of the first two holes of the playoff. Then McIlroy missed the green the third time around, unable to get up and down for par with an 8-foot putt. Storm, who found the center of the green again, converted the two-putt for the winning par.

The win is the 38-year-old Storm’s first on the European Tour since the 2007 French Open.

Jordan L. Smith, who turned pro in 2014 and won the money list on each tour he’s played on as a pro in each of the last two seasons, finished a shot out of the playoff to climb into the top 100 of the Official World Golf Ranking.

McIlroy, while disappointed that he didn’t finish off the tournament, did score a personal win in working through a back injury earlier in the week to get to the playoff. As he heads to Abu Dhabi for the start of the European Tour’s Middle East swing, he has an upbeat look on the week.

“Obviously it’s disappointing to finish like that but Graeme has played well all week and what a story it for him,” said McIlroy. “He thought he had lost his card at the end of last year and there he is now standing with a trophy in his hands after the first event of 2017. I’m delighted for him.

“I wish I could have done a little more but it’s not a bad way to start the season and gives me something to build on in the weeks ahead.”

Devil Ball Golf – Golf – Yahoo Sports

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