Cabrera Bello, who had been in superb form all week, had birded the 16th and 17th to set up a grandstand finish down the last but he could only make a par and finish 12-under as Brazel's incredible approach set up just the second birdie of the day on the closing hole. The 32-year-old said: “If you look at the week overall, it has been a great week, finishing second. Just a little disappointed today. I managed to start good again but then struggled halfway through the front nine. I battled back really hard again, same as yesterday. But then Sam just played a fantastic 18th hole.”
“Obviously, I am still proud of the performance. I messed up a little obviously on seven and eight but I stayed calm and waited for my chances. I gave myself lots of opportunities. Some didn't fall, but at the end, 16 and 17, they were two great putts that did go in. The one on 18th, almost, as well. In the end, it's a good week. It's just a bitter taste finishing runner-up.”
Brazel started the day in a share of the lead with Cabrera Bello but the leading duo both turned in two over par 36 to allow the chasing pack to close the gap and set up a titanic battle on the back nine. Cabrera Bello had birdied the third for the fourth time of the week and when Brazel bogeyed the sixth after finding the sand, the Spaniard led by two shots.
The leader bogeyed the seventh after going over the back of the green before a poor chip on the next resulted in a double, and when Brazel went over the back of the ninth for a bogey, it was Willett who led after making birdies on the fourth, sixth, seventh, 12th and 13th.
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