McEvoy in Tour win on 285th attempt

ENGLISH veteran Richard McEvoy held his nerve to birdie the last hole and win the European Open on Sunday, his first career triumph in his 285th tour event.

The 39-year-old finished on 11 under par for a one-shot victory over Sweden’s Christofer Blomstrand, Renato Paratore of Italy and German amateur Allen John.

John, who is profoundly deaf, carded a five under par final round of 67, the best of the day.

“It’s incredible,” McEvoy said of his long-awaited victory. “I’ve waited a long time – 17 years as a pro on and off the tour. I’m absolutely over the moon.”

In a tense finish, Blomstrand and Paratore both birdied the last for rounds of 68 and 70 respectively to join John on 278 for the championship and when McEvoy bogeyed the 17th, there was a four-way tie for the lead.

But McEvoy held his nerve, sinking a tricky putt for victory. “I fought hard, I believed. I’ve tried to enjoy my golf as much as possible,” he said.

Meanwhile, John said he was overjoyed at his finish despite narrowly missing out on a playoff with McEvoy and that being deaf is something to which he has become accustomed.

“It’s just been a part of me since I can think of, I’ve tried to make the best of it,” said the 30-year-old, who has been wearing hearing aids since he was two. “You get a lot of self confidence with handling a situation like that. I’m pretty good round that now.

“It’s pretty cool – when something is annoying me, I can just go offline and everybody is thinking: ‘Is he even listening?’ And I’m like: ‘OK, I’m offline.’ It has a few advantages.”

Ariya takes Scottish Open

Thailand’s US Open champion Ariya Jutanugarn won the women’s Scottish Open to go top of the world rankings, posting a final round of five-under-par 66 for a total of 13-under at Gullane golf course on Sunday.

The 22-year-old phenomenon became the first Thai golfer to win a major at the 2016 British Open. Ariya will head to next week’s British Open at Royal Lytham & St Annes with a significant boost to her confidence, but she warned that her victory on a links course did not make her a racing certainty to be a title contender.

“Still tough for me and I will have to be patient,” she said. “I have a pretty good feeling so hope next week to play my A game.”

Ariya’s victory – her third this year – saw her go top of the world rankings for a second time in her career on Monday.