Retief Goosen’s magnificent eagle putt to snatch The Commercialbank Qatar Masters from under the nose of Australian Nick O’Hern at Doha Golf Club has been recognised as The European Tour Shot of the Month for January.
The double US Open Champion was two strokes behind with two holes remaining, but produced a remarkable birdie-eagle finish to deprive O’Hern of his first European Tour title.
Goosen, who made a short birdie putt for a two at the 17th, found the middle of the 18th green in two shots. The South African sized up his putt from 30 feet, worked out how to negotiate two different slopes as well as the five foot right to left borrow and calmly produced the decisive eagle three that settled the destination of the €282,743 (£185,566) first prize.
The World Number Six said: “On the 17th I finally made a putt for a birdie two and at the 18th I hit a good drive and hit the fairway then reached the green with a three wood. From about 30 feet I was looking to get my putt close. It was not an easy one, going uphill first and then downhill. But when it got over the hill, it looked to me like it had a chance and went right in.”
The European Tour Shot of the Month Award is presented to the Tour Member for the shot judged to be the most outstanding played during each calendar month on The European Tour International Schedule. The winning shots from each month are entered towards The European Tour Shot of the Year Award.
