Oxfordshire’s Eddie Pepperell held off the challenge of close friend Oliver Fisher to win his first European Tour title after a thrilling conclusion to the Commercial Bank Qatar Masters.
Pepperell, who is attached to Frilford Heath Golf Club, entered the final day at Doha Golf Club level with his compatriot at the top of the leaderboard, and while he opened up a three-shot lead at the turn, an impressive fightback by Fisher meant the pair were separated by a just single stroke as they went up the par five last.
It was advantage Fisher after two shots with Pepperell in the rough after both men laid-up, but the 27 year old hit an excellent third to set up a par, which his playing partner could only match.
Pepperell’s closing round of 70 got him to 18 under, with Fisher signing for a 71, one shot back, and Swede Marcus Kinhult finishing at 16 under after a 68. Spanish duo Gonzalo Fernandez-Castaño and Pablo Larrazábal, Frenchman Grégory Havret and Italian Renato Paratore tied fourth at 15 under.
“What a day,” said Pepperell, after receiving the iconic Pearl Trophy for winning his maiden European Tour title in his 129th appearance on the European Tour. “Oli made it really tough, and I made it tough for myself at the end there, with the second shot at 18. I didn’t feel that comfortable with my swing, but I was in a great place mentally, and I kept telling myself that I’m going to win this. Relief is the number one emotion, as is always the case with a win, although I haven’t had many.”
The victory was just reward for Pepperell’s mental fortitude and hard work after fighting back from losing his Tour card and returning to Q-School in 2016.
“This will certainly give me some confidence going forward,” he said. “I’ve always felt, and believed, that I would win out here, but it hadn’t happened before today. Hopefully it won’t be my last.”
Pepperell won the Allianz Open Côtes d’Armor Bretagne en route to graduating from the Challenge Tour in 2012, and then enjoyed three consistent seasons before losing his card, leading to a successful trip Qualifying School in 2016 to regain it immediately.
Last season saw him secure four top fives and three top tens from his last ten events, before a slow start to the current season saw him miss cuts in his first two outings before signs of improvement at last week’s NBO Oman Open.
“The last nine months have been great,” Pepperell said. “The start of the season’s been a little bit sloppy, haven’t really had my game in a good spot. I worked with somebody slightly different this week and it made a significant difference. I found it a little easier out there today to go and trust the feeling that I had.”
For Fisher, it is a first top three since the 2014 Africa Open, but he will have to wait a little longer to add to his 2011 Czech Open title, despite taking confidence for the way he finished his round, coming home in 32 blows after a forgettable front nine of 39.
“It went all the way to the last hole which, after my front nine, was what I was hoping for on the back nine,” he said. “I hit a lot of good shots coming down the back nine and gave myself a lot of good chances, but there were just too many bogeys today – four in total – so you’re never going to win a tournament making that many mistakes on a Sunday. But at least I pressed him all the way.”