Rumford scores spectacular win at Ballantine’s Championship

Rumford joins a growing list of Australian golfer’s who have won in 2013.

Brett Rumford played some forgettable shots during his final few holes at the European Tour’s Rumford was struggling with the driver again during the final round of the Ballantine’s Championship and appeared to hit himself out of the tournament on the 17th hole.

With a two shot lead, Rumford found the trees on the left and was forced to take a penalty drop finishing the hole with double bogey.

Ballantine’s Championship in South Korea yesterday, but it was his approach to the first playoff hole that will be remembered for many years.

Video: Watch Brett Rumford’s amazing shot

It would be an understatement to say that Rumford’s Achilles heel is the driver. His driving accuracy has always floated just above 50% but manages to stay in tournaments thanks to a great short game.

His drive on the par-5 final hole wasn’t much better but Rumford managed to chip out of the trees and sink a par saving putt to join fellow Australian Marcus Fraser and Scotland’s Peter Whiteford in a playoff.

Knowing his driver was the problem, Rumford gave his coach a quick call while hitting a few warm-up shots before the playoff began.

“I was obviously struggling coming home. It was just a matter of making a quick phone call”, Rumford said.

“I just presumed that my coach, Pete Cowen, would have been watching in the U.K. and so I gave him a quick call just to say, ‘hey, Pete, just give me a one minute lesson, mate, before I go on.”

Rumford’s drive on the final hole was straight and gave himself an opportunity to go for the green in two. He nearly holed his approach and made the short eagle putt to become the first player on the day to make eagle on the final hole and record his first victory since 2007.

“I’ve had my opportunities, but it’s really tough and even today, I pretty much once again let it slip through my fingers”, Rumford said following his round.

“It’s obviously what makes the best players in the world the best- they capitalise on these positions in which they get themselves into over the last nine holes.”

Rumford has had a tough time on the European Tour over the past few years, not unsurprisingly coinciding with the birth of his twin daughters.Rumford has always been an underrated Australian golfer, who hasn’t held the spotlight as much as the likes of Jason Day and Adam Scott have on the US PGA tour.

As one of the good guys on tour, let’s hope this victory propels Rumford back to the regular winner’s circle his talent has always promised.