Another exciting chapter was written in the Peter Baker and Adilson da Silva rivalry after last year’s top two players in the order of merit battled in a sudden death play-off at the European Legends Cup in Spain, with the Brazilian coming out on top on this occasion.
Both players birdied the par-5 18th at Golf Almerimar in regulation and revisited the finisher to decide the destiny of the title. Da Silva was greenside in two shots, with Baker facing a massive putt for eagle. Remarkably, they both left the exact same three-foot putt for birdie.
Da Silva went first and holed before Baker lipped out, giving the Brazilian his seventh Legends Tour title. It’s a win that takes him top of this year’s MCB Road to Mauritius, having finished second on the season-long Order of Merit in 2022 and 2023.
Baker, who won last year’s order of merit, surged through the field with a closing 65 – the best round of the week. The former Ryder Cup player birdied five of his first seven holes to move into contention after starting the day four shots back. He traded a birdie at 10 with his only bogey of the day at 11, before picking up further shots on 15 and 18 to post the clubhouse target of -9.
Da Silva was playing in the final group alongside overnight co-leaders Paul Lawrie and Phillip Archer. He birdied the first three holes and stood on the 18th tee knowing he needed a birdie to force a play-off after making a couple of birdies and a couple of bogeys around the turn. He duly delivered the four he needed after hitting a brilliant second shot onto the green from 230 yards, before claiming his second win of the season on the first extra hole.
“Wow, amazing,” said Da Silva. “I peaked at the leaderboard walking to the 17th and 18th. I don’t normally do it, but I knew things were quite close. I had a birdie chance on 17 and I didn’t get it, so I knew I needed to make something happen on 18, and I got the birdie to get into the play-off.”
Da Silva added: “This year it is absolutely my goal to do my best to finish on top of the order of merit at the end of the season. I’m just going to keep working hard. The competition is so tough out there – the guys are playing such good golf. I just have to keep it going.”
Phil Archer held the lead on his own or in a share for most of the day before a bogey on 15 and double-bogey on 17 after finding the water off the tee on the par-3 took him out of contention. He birdied the final hole to shoot 71 and finish tied third on -7 alongside Keith Horne and Andrew Raitt, who had rounds of 69 and 68 respectively.
For all the scores for the European Legends Cup, click here.