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Andres Romero storms to thrilling win at BMW International Open

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The best of the action from an enthralling final day of the BMW International Open in Munich, where Andres Romero snatched an unlikely victory.

Andres Romero produced an outstanding finish to snatch his first European Tour victory in almost 10 years at the BMW International Open in Munich.

Final leaderboard

BMW International Open

Romero stormed to the top of the leaderboard with seven birdies over his last 11 holes to return a flawless 65, earning the Argentine a thrilling one-stroke victory over Masters champion Sergio Garcia, Richard Bland and Thomas Detry.

Andres Romero snatched his first European Tour win since 2007
Image: Andres Romero snatched his first European Tour win since 2007

Garcia and Bland came within inches of forcing a play-off on the 72nd hole as both required an eagle to tie Romero on 17 under, but Garcia's pitch was a fraction off target and Bland's 20-foot putt following a superb three-wood second drifted to the right of the cup.

Romero has struggled for form since winning the 2008 Zurich Classic of New Orleans and has slumped to 837th in the world rankings, but he can now look forward to a healthy European Tour exemption after his outstanding final round at the Golfclub Munchen Eichenried.

Romero birdied seven of the last 11 holes in Munich
Image: Romero birdied seven of the last 11 holes in Munich

The putts were not dropping for him early on as he parred the opening seven holes, but he suddenly caught fire on the greens from the moment he holed from 15 feet for his first birdie of the day at the eighth.

Romero added another at nine and then safely two-putted from 45 feet at the long 11th before nailing another great putt from the fringe of the 13th green which lifted him to 14 under.

Romero had slumped to 837th in the world rankings after a lean few years
Image: Romero had slumped to 837th in the world rankings after a lean few years

The 36-year-old looked like he could not miss as he rolled in another 20-footer for birdie at 14, and a tricky left-to-right slider at the next also dropped for his third consecutive gain, and he negotiated the next two holes in par before nerves appeared to get the better of him at the last as he left his eagle putt seven feet short.

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But Romero composed himself to rattle in the birdie chance which gave him the outright clubhouse lead ahead of Detry, who had stormed to the turn in 31 but missed a number of crucial chances on the back nine as he closed with a 66.

Sergio Garcia of Spain plays his shot from the 17th tee during the second round of the 2017 U.S. Open at Erin Hills
Image: Sergio Garcia narrowly failed to chip-in at the last to force a play-off

Romero then waited anxiously for the final pairing of Garcia and Bland, who revived his bid for a maiden European Tour win at the age of 44 with three consecutive birdies around the turn and another at the 14th got him into the group on 16 under.

But Bland made a big mistake at 17 and shaved the hole from 10 feet for par, although he gave himself a great chance to take the tournament into extra holes with his awesome 260-yard three-wood to the rear of the green at the final hole.

Richard Bland enjoyed an adventurous three holes as he jumped into a share of the lead
Image: Richard Bland set up an eagle chance at the last, but the putt drifted wide

Garcia, meanwhile, kept himself in the hunt with three birdies in five holes around the turn, but he dropped his second shot of the day at the 16th and pulled his second to the last into the left rough.

The Spaniard's chip was well-struck but just a few inches to the right of the hole, while Bland allowed too much break with his eagle putt to leave Romero celebrating his second European Tour win, and his first since making his breakthrough at the Deutsche Bank Players Championship of Europe in July 2007.

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Tommy Fleetwood eagled the last to cap a confident 67 which saw him climb to 13 under alongside Nordea Masters champion Renato Paratore (68), while Henrik Stenson produced a birdie-birdie finish for a 68 which earned him a share of 10th place on 11 under par.

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