Gonzalo Fernandez-Castaño wins BMW Masters

Gonzalo Fernandez-Castaño of Spain survived a late stumble to win the BMW Masters presented by SRE Group by a single shot at Lake Malaren Golf Club in Shanghai China.

Gonzalo Fdz-Castano wins BMW Masters (Getty Images)
Fergus Bisset
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Gonzalo Fernandez-Castaño of Spain survived a late stumble to win the BMW Masters presented by SRE Group by a single shot at Lake Malaren Golf Club in Shanghai, China.

Fernandez-Castaño looked to have the title sewn up after 17 holes. He held a three shot lead with one hole to play, but he found two bunkers on the home hole en-route to a hard-fought, double-bogey six. It was just enough for the Spaniard to claim his seventh European Tour title, the first event of the European Tour's "Final Series," and the winner's cheque for over €850,000.

"I knew it wasn't going to be an easy round, especially the way I started. I started hitting the ball pretty bad," he said. "But my caddie kept me cool and told me how good I had been hitting the ball through the week and I played fantastic after that. On the last I played too conservative and it was a fighting six at the end for sure."

Italy's Francesco Molinari set the early pace with a superb final round of 64. He reached the turn in 34 but looked to have lost his chance with a bogey at the 12th. But he rallied from there and made an eagle and four birdies in his last six holes to fire a 64 and post a four round total of 10-under-par.

That number was matched by Thailand's Thongchai Jaidee who closed with a fine 66. He and Molinari finished tied second, one back of Fernandez-Castaño.

Luke Guthrie of the USA was tied for the lead with Rafa Cabrera-Bello of Spain after 54 holes, but the pair struggled on Sunday. Guthrie carded a 71 to end the week in fourth place and Cabrera-Bello stumbled to a 73 and finished tied eighth.

Defending champion Peter Hanson closed with a fantastic round of 63 to complete an impressive comeback after a disappointing opening round of 79.

"I was playing with Paul McGinley, the Ryder Cup Captain, and I guess I wanted to impress him," he chuckled after the round.

BMW Masters presented by SRE Group Lake Malaren Golf Club, Shanghai, China Oct 24-27, purse €5,120,000, par 72

1   Gonzalo Fdz-Castaño (Esp) 71 71   67   68   277   €851,346 T2   Thongchai Jaidee (Tha)   70   70   72   66   278   €445,158 T2   Francesco Molinari (Ita)   72   71   71   64   278   €445,158 4   Luke Guthrie (USA)   65   71   72   71   279   €255,491 T5   Thomas Bjorn (Den)   73   72   69   66   280   €183,269 T5   Pablo Larrazabal (Esp)   70   73   69   68   280   €183,269 T5   Peter Uihlein (USA)   69   75   69   67   280   €183,269 T8   Rafa Cabrera-Bello (Esp) 73   68   67   73   281   €110,560 T8   Peter Hanson (Swe)   79   68   71   63   281   €110,560 T8   Paul Casey (Eng)      70   70   71   70   281   €110,560 T8   Scott Jamieson (Sco)   72   68   71   70   281   €110,560

Note: Player score in bold signifies Titleist ball usage

Where next? PGA Tour - Ryan Moore wins CIMB Classic

Fergus Bisset
Fergus Bisset
Contributing Editor

Fergus is Golf Monthly's resident expert on the history of the game and has written extensively on that subject. He has also worked with Golf Monthly to produce a podcast series. Called 18 Majors: The Golf History Show it offers new and in-depth perspectives on some of the most important moments in golf's long history. You can find all the details about it here.

He is a golf obsessive and 1-handicapper. Growing up in the North East of Scotland, golf runs through his veins and his passion for the sport was bolstered during his time at St Andrews university studying history. He went on to earn a post graduate diploma from the London School of Journalism. Fergus has worked for Golf Monthly since 2004 and has written two books on the game; "Great Golf Debates" together with Jezz Ellwood of Golf Monthly and the history section of "The Ultimate Golf Book" together with Neil Tappin , also of Golf Monthly.

Fergus once shanked a ball from just over Granny Clark's Wynd on the 18th of the Old Course that struck the St Andrews Golf Club and rebounded into the Valley of Sin, from where he saved par. Who says there's no golfing god?

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