All smiles for Simon
17/06/2016
Birthday boy Simon Khan gave himself another reason to celebrate after winning a play-off at the London Open @ West Essex.
The European Tour star, 44, fired a second-round 68 to finish at two-under alongside Chase Davis (Marriot Sprowston Manor), who recorded back-to-back scores of 69.
That meant ‘extra time’ and the pair set off down the par-four 17th where Davis drew a difficult lie for his approach. But Khan – the 2010 BMW PGA champion – was able to deliver a smooth eight-iron and ended up just needing to two-putt to triumph.
Khan said: “It’s nice. Any win at any level – whether it’s this or a European Tour event – it’s the same feelings. It doesn’t change.
“Pressures, and stuff like that, I probably felt as much in that play-off as I did winning at Wentworth or winning the Wales Open in a play-off with Paul Casey. The nerves...little bit of adrenalin – and it’s a good thing. You’ve got to learn how to deal with it. Playing well and winning at any level is tough.”
It felt like a ‘home’ win as Khan – who did his PGA training at nearby Theydon Bois –only lives 10 minutes down the road in nearby Epping.
He said: “I grew up playing at Chingford, literally down the road. I used to caddie up here – the Southern Pros – and used to come up and play whenever I could. I know it well from then. This is my area, really. It was nice to have a few people walking round and seeing some old faces.”
The last two seasons have seen Khan regularly sidelined with injury problems, especially with his left knee. But his victory at West Essex and a recent tied-15th finish in the BMW PGA Championship suggest he is returning to top form.
He said: “The old feelings are coming back a little bit. These two rounds, I started driving the ball a lot better and my long stuff was a lot better. I can hopefully take that forward now into the rest of the year on Tour.”
Fellow Essex professional – and former European Tour ace – Rob Coles (Maylands) finished tied third for the second successive Order of Merit. He and James Scade (Ingrebourne Links) were the only other two players to break par.
Order of Merit leader Ian Campbell (Cheshunt Park) finished in a sixth spot, while James Ruebotham (Welwyn Garden City) shot the tournament’s lowest round – a second-round 65, which lifted him into a share of seventh place alongside Jack Winer (Abridge).
