Wu putts his way to history

Last-hole victory seals third title on European Tour

Wu Ashun became the first Chinese mainland golfer to notch three victories on the European Tour when he claimed a one-stroke triumph at the KLM Open in the Netherlands on Sunday.

Starting the day one stroke back of England's Chris Wood, Wu closed with a 4-under 67, finishing with a dramatic two-putt birdie on the par-5 final hole after his aggressive second shot skirted a water hazard and landed in the heart of the green.

Wood's closing 69 left the Englishman one shot up on Belgium's Thomas Detry and Hideto Tanihara of Japan, who were 14-under, while three-time major winner Padraig Harrington of Ireland was 13-under.

Wu's third win makes him the most successful Chinese player in European Tour history and represents an excellent return to form after he needed the access list to keep his playing privileges last season.

"Unbelievable this week," Wu, the world No 344, told europeantour.com.

"I am so happy and want to thank every one ... especially my coach," said the 33-year-old.

"We just fixed my swing at the beginning of the year and we still trust that we are going the right way.

"My coach and I have been working very hard and he has flown to the Czech Republic and Denmark to help me, so I think we are getting better and better.

"It was beautiful weather this week, and a lot of good golf was played here. I like this golf course very much."

With the win, Wu is now projected to be ranked in the world's top 200.

Wood started his day strong, making consecutive birdies on Nos 9 and 10. But a double-bogey on the 12th allowed the chasing pack, including Wu, the opportunity to bring themselves back into it.

Wu was the man to capitalize on Wood's downfall, birdying three of the final five holes and leaving Wood needing to drain a birdie putt on the par-5 18th to take the contest into a playoff.

Wood lamented his third runner-up finish of the year.

"My putting was good all week, so it's just a shame that it let me down at the end," he said.

Wood bogeyed the first hole after finding the sand to make it a four-way tie for the lead, but Wu's approach to the second was inside three feet and he became solo leader.

A response was needed from the overnight leader and he produced one straight away, putting his approach to the second to five feet for a bounceback birdie.

Wu found his range to hit an excellent drive into the par-3 fourth and rolled home from 15 feet to get back in front.

Wood took advantage of the par-5 sixth to get back even, and when Wu hit his tee shot right into thick rough on the seventh, Wood led again.

An approach to five feet at No 10 and an excellent 10-foot right-to-lefter on the next put Wood three ahead, but his lead slipped to one when he found the water to double-bogey the 12th.

He spun a wonderful approach to tap-in range on the 13th to get back to two ahead but Wu hit an excellent tee-shot into the par-3 14th and an approach to four feet on the next to move into a share.

With the tee up 141 yards on the par-5 final hole, Wu blasted a stunning second shot into the green and then cooly drained his putt for birdie, while and Wood blew his chance to tie it up and force a playoff.

Meanwhile Detry, who tied the course record with a 63 on Saturday, continued his charge in the final round, making birdies on the third, sixth, 11th, 15th, 17th and last with a bogey on the ninth.

Tanihara, who also recorded a 63 in the third round, reeled off nine straight pars on Sunday.