Oliver Wilson Holds On To Win Alfred Dunhill Links Championship

Jul 15, 2014; Wirral, GBR; Tommy Fleetwood plays from a bunker on the 8th hole during a practice round at the 143rd Open Championship at The Royal Liverpool Golf Club. Mandatory Credit: Steve Flynn-USA TODAY Sports

Oliver Wilson was able to hold off a strong field on Sunday afternoon at the home of golf in Scotland to win the 2014 Alfred Dunhill Links Championship. With all players finishing up this event at St Andrews, Wilson started the day with a three shot lead, and was able to hold off some real good players down the stretch for his first European Tour win.

The 34 year-old Brit has been on hard times since his 2008 Ryder Cup appearance, and had to beat some of the best players in the world to get the victory including the world number one player, Rory McIlroy.

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Fellow Brit, Tommy Fleetwood was in the mix with Scot, Ritchie Ramsey, during the final holes. 2010 Open Champ, Louis Oosthizen matched Fleetwood’s 62 on Saturday, and was in the mix until he three-putted the eighth hole for a bogey.

Fleetwood, Ramsey and McIroy all finished in a tie for second place, with Fleetwood missing a birdie putt on 18 to force a playoff. He was unable to convert, and Oliver Wilson gets a fledgling career back on track.

Oliver Wilson had played well enough during the 2008 season that nine runner-up finishes earned him a Ryder Cup appearance. Ranked in the top 50 that year, his swing went South, and the downfall started. He lost his tour card in 2012, was playing on the Challenge Tour, and ranked 792nd in the world.

"“Before I went out today I thought about how I’ve never gone out and won a tournament. I’ve played alright coming down the stretch and not lost it and other guys have just got over the line ahead of me and today I was just trying to be patient.“I got off to a good start ball-striking wise but a couple of three-putts and you think ‘here we go’ but I stayed patient. The course was tricky with the wind, Rory was in front and I could keep an eye on what he was doing and Tommy was playing good as well.“I played some great shots on the back nine, you feel like when you turn back into the wind that your opportunity has probably gone because it’s hard to make some birdies.”I made a great save at 14 and the shot I hit into 16 was probably the best shot of my life. 17 was hard work and at the last Tommy had putted well and I thought he was going to make that."

Wilson’s win came from getting off to a nice start at Carnoustie on Thursday. Many of the top players struggled at Carnoustie, but Wilson was able to fire an eight under par 64 while everyone else was shooting around even par.

Rory McIlroy had his chances on Sunday, and he loves the old Course, but a double bogey at the first hole and problems with the Road Hole(17) were mistakes he couldn’t overcome. Other than those two holes, Rory was able to get around at four under par 68 on the day, but the two mistakes were the difference.

"“Where I feel like I cost myself the tournament today was probably in the space of about 20 yards at the front of the green at the first and over at the Road Hole bunker,” said the Northern Irishman. “They are not too far away from each other and they are the two things, the only mistakes that I made all day."

Ramsey, and Tommy Fleetwood had a nice tournament, and will cash nice paychecks for their effort. Scot, Chris Doak had one of the low rounds of the day, shooting six under par 66 on a tough day in Scotland. He finished alone in fifth place.

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