Simon Khan's commitment to his beloved Wentworth during his formative years as a golfer went some way towards earning the Englishman a coveted sponsors' invitation into the PGA championship on the redesigned West Course last week. On Sunday evening Khan was counting his blessings after taking full advantage of that open door to the European Tour's flagship event.
A brilliant final round of 66 - when those around him were falling by the wayside on what has been transformed into one of the toughest tests of golf on the calendar - secured the most unlikely of triumphs for a player who began the day ranked 471st in the world. A nerve jangling birdie putt at the treacherous final hole enabled Khan to set a six-under-par aggregate target which those following, principally his more famous compatriot Luke Donald, were unable to match.
Donald's seven at the 17th rendered a brave birdie on the 18th inadequate when an improbable eagle - he almost chipped in for one - was required and prompted wild celebrations in the hitherto financially-challenged Khan household. Khan, 37, who had won only one professional event previously - the 2004 Welsh Open - realised that his bank balance had overnight been given a fantastic £750,000 (Dh3.9 million) boost and his stuttering career had been propelled into overdrive. Facing an uncertain future after losing his tour card last year, Khan now has no such worries. His victory, coming from seven shots off the final day pace, earns him exemption for the next five years on the European Tour and entry to the British Open championship for the next three years. His massive payday also enables him to jump from nowhere to seventh place in the Race to Dubai merit table, giving him an outstanding chance of making the 60-man line-up for the Dubai World Championship at Jumeirah Golf Estates at the end of November.
Nor is a Ryder Cup place out of reach any more. Khan today occupies 12th place on the European points list with only Paul Casey, Francesco Molinari and Peter Hanson blocking his path to automatic selection for the Celtic Manor meeting with the United States in October. Khan, who began his fourth round at Wentworth in 13th position, ended the final afternoon one shot clear of Donald and Sweden's Fredrik Andersson Hed. Scotland's Stephen Gallacher claimed fourth place. England's Chris Wood, the overnight leader, faded badly, not for the first time at the moment of reckoning, as did Sweden's Robert Karlsson, his playing partner who had broken the course record on Saturday with a magnificent 62. Needless to say the shock addition to a star-studded Wentworth honours board will not have a wrong word to say about the famous course which was given a makeover this year under the direction of Ernie Els, the three-time major champion from South Africa.
Els, who finished in a tie for 34th place, was indignant about the way his course alterations were received by his fellow professionals whom he accused of "sticking the knife in". Himself a victim of the controversial final hole which is now protected by a moat in front of an elevated green, Els argued that criticism of the £6.5m redesign from his fellow players could have been less vindictive. The furore will lead to a rethink, particularly on that difficult closing hole, in time for next year's showpiece event on the European Tour when other journeymen professionals will be hoping to follow Khan into dreamland. wjohnson@thenational.ae
