Green comes from seven behind to win in Portugal

Mon, Oct 18 10 12:20 AM

Australian Richard Green overcame a seven-shot deficit following the third round to win the Portugal Masters on Sunday by two strokes.

Lefthander Green benefited from an error-strewn final round by overnight leader Pablo Martin of Spain to chalk up his third European Tour title, closing with a seven-under-par 65 for an 18-under 270 total.

Martin led by three strokes going into the final round and was four ahead after five holes.

However, a dramatic collapse by the Spaniard started with a double-bogey on the seventh after he hooked into water and his game quickly unravelled as he dropped down the leader board to finish tied in sixth place after carding a 75 on Sunday.

Ryder Cup player Francesco Molinari also surged through the field, compiling his second 62 of the week. The Italian grabbed a share of second place with Swede Robert Karlsson (67), Spain's Gonzalo Fernandez-Castano (68) and Dutchman Joost Luiten (69).

Green dropped two shots in the last three holes but that failed to derail his charge to the title after sinking 11 birdies in the final round.

"I felt I needed the best round of golf I could play," Green told reporters after pocketing $689,000. "I had 64 in my mind at the start and I thought I was going to do better than that when I got to nine-under.

"It was strange finish but it was enough."

Green admitted his victory had not been as exhilarating as when he overcame compatriot Greg Norman and Briton Ian Woosnam in their pomp in a playoff to prevail in Dubai 13 years ago but added: "A win's a win."

Source: Published>