Marcel Siem wins BMW Masters

Germany’s Marcel Siem chipped in to win a playoff for the BMW Masters in Shanghai against Ross Fisher of England and France’s Alexander Levy.

Germany’s Marcel Siem chipped in to win a playoff for the BMW Masters in Shanghai against Ross Fisher of England and France’s Alexander Levy.

On a day where windy conditions were making scoring difficult, there were some extraordinary changes in fortune through the final round at Lake Malaren Golf Club.

Alexander Levy had taken a four shot lead into Sunday. Siem caught him after nine holes, although Levy regained the advantage with six to play when Siem bogeyed the 12th.

But the Frenchman, who had looked irresistible over the first three rounds, collapsed on the run for home. He double-bogeyed the par-5 13th and followed that with further bogeys at the 14th, 16th and 18th holes. He played the last six in five-over-par.

Siem struggled on the back nine too, with five bogeys countered by just one birdie. Both men finished on 16-under-par, a total already posted by Ross Fisher who had closed with an excellent 67.

Jamie Donaldson had a chance to make the playoff but he left a birdie putt agonisingly short on the 72nd green.

Extra holes were required to separate Siem, Fisher and Levy. Both Levy and Fisher found the green in regulation on Lake Malaren’s testing 18th hole, Siem’s approach narrowly missed the putting surface.

The German was first to play and the fact he had the flag removed signaled his intent. He played a delicate chip that rolled inexorably towards the cup and dropped in for a birdie three. Neither Fisher nor Levy were able to make their birdie putts so the title was Siem’s.

It was the German’s fourth European Tour victory and it has moved him to fourth place on the Race to Dubai.

BMW Masters Lake Malaren Golf Club, Shanghai, China Oct 27 – Nov 2, purse $7,000,000, par 72

1    Marcel Siem (Ger)    68    66    65    73    272    $1,166,660 T2    Ross Fisher (Eng)        70    67    68    67    272    $608,600 T2    Alexander Levy (Fra)    65    66    63    78    272    $608,600 T4    Justin Rose (Eng)        72    65    64    72    273    $325,050 T4    Jamie Donaldson (Wal)    68    68    62    75    273    $325,050 T6    Romain Wattel (Fra)    66    67    71    70    274    $227,950 T6    Nicolas Colsaerts (Bel)    66    64    73    71    274    $227,950 T8    Ryan Palmer (USA)    70    67    68    70    275    $167,750 T8    Emilano Grillo (Arg)    66    68    69    72    275    $167,750 T10    Fabrizio Zanotti (Par)    70    68    69    69    276    $125,367 T10    Mikko Ilonen (Fin)    70    66    69    71    276    $125,367 T10    George Coetzee (RSA)    71    67    67    71    276    $125,367

Note: Player score in bold signifies Titleist ball usage