MADRID, October 9, 2011 (AFP) - England's Lee Slattery won his first European Tour title at the 183rd attempt on Sunday when he survived a mistake-plagued start and a disastrous seven at the final hole to take the Madrid Masters by one shot.
The 33-year-old, who finished with a 71 for a 15 under par total, had been two clear at the start of the final round, but bogeyed two of his first five holes to allow Argentine veteran Cesar Monasterio and Italian Lorenzo Gagli to close in.
Slattery then composed himself to hit four birdies in five holes from the 11th as he found himself three clear with three to play.
But on the final hole, he hit his second shot into a bunker, and then pushed his approach into the water to the right of the green.
A chip left him with two putts from 10 feet, and he holed a two footer to secure a one shot win over Gagli.
"I've never shaken so much in my life. I've been out here for seven years and now I believe I can win. That's been the biggest problem over the last few years," said Slattery.
"I come from a normal working class background. My mum and dad have done everything they can for us and I got kind of emotional walking down the last - I know how much it's going to mean for them.
"I struggled for a time and had to work in a clothes shop. Working in that shop actually helped me, it certainly grounded me and made me realize I don't want to do that."
The victory was all the sweeter for a player who lost his card by just €77 in 2007 and had to return to The Challenge Tour last year after again slipping out of the top 115 in 2009.
"I remember when I got my Tour card for the first time and my Dad said to me: 'You haven't made it yet, you've got to win an event' and he's kind of right. The belief I've got now after winning is tremendous and I want to win more."
World number one and defending champion Luke Donald finished with a level par 72 to be tied for 11th.
Leading and selected Madrid Masters final round scores at the El Encin Golf Hotel on Sunday (GBR and IRL unless stated, par 72):
273 - Lee Slattery 67-66-69-71
274 - Lorenzo Gagli (ITA) 65-70-69-70
276 - Eduardo De La Riva (ESP) 67-67-72-70, Cesar Monasterio (ARG) 68-70-67-71
278 - Thomas Aiken (RSA) 71-69-67-71
279 - Francesco Molinari (ITA) 67-67-71-74, Peter Hanson (SWE) 67-72-72-68, Benjamin Hebert (FRA) 69-72-67-71, Gonzalo Fdez-Castano (ESP) 65-75-68-71, Oscar Floren (SWE) 69-69-67-74
280 - Richard McEvoy 69-71-69-71, Luke Donald 68-70-70-72, Tano Goya (ARG) 67-70-72-71
281 - Brett Rumford (AUS) 65-71-68-77, Nicolas Colsaerts (BEL) 70-72-69-70
282 - Carlos Rodiles (ESP) 70-68-72-72, Pedro Oriol (ESP) 71-71-69-71
283 - George Murray 69-74-71-69, Oliver Wilson 68-69-74-72, Jaco Van Zyl (RSA) 70-71-71-71, Carl Suneson (ESP) 70-73-70-70, Marc Warren 72-68-72-71, Tim Sluiter (NED) 71-70-69-73, Alejandro Canizares (ESP) 73-69-69-72, Edoardo Molinari (ITA) 66-73-70-74, Marcus Fraser (AUS) 70-71-69-73, Bradley Dredge 67-73-70-73
284 - Paul McGinley 72-70-70-72, Florian Fritsch (GER) 71-72-69-72
Selected
285 - George Coetzee (RSA) 73-70-70-72
287 - Anthony Kang (USA) 69-73-70-75, Henrik Stenson (SWE) 71-71-71-74
289 - Matteo Manassero (ITA) 71-70-73-75, Jason Knutzon (USA) 70-68-73-78
290 - Daniel Gaunt (AUS) 75-68-74-73, Matthew Zions (AUS) 70-72-73-75
291 - Paul Lawrie 72-71-74-74