
Jeev Milkha Singh parred all 18 holes of his final round on Sunday to win the Austrian Open by a stroke. A closing 71 for a 15-under 198 three-round total in the weather-shortened event left Singh one shot better than Britain8217;s Simon Wakefield.
Singh claimed his third European Tour title in Nick Faldo fashion, copying the six-times major champion8217;s feat of 1987 when Faldo won the British Open at Muirfield by parring all 18 holes of the final round.
Wakefield, Singh8217;s nearest challenger overnight, began the final round four off the lead in the tournament reduced to 54 holes because of Thursday8217;s washout.
The Englishman exerted pressure on playing partner Singh by birdieing three of the last four holes but came up a stroke shy of forcing a playoff.
Singh collected 337,000 in adding to his prestigious 2006 Volvo Masters title and China Open that year but admitted he may have been a little lucky to do so with Sunday8217;s par finish. 8220;I was trying to make birdies but they wouldn8217;t go in,8221; he said. 8220;I think I8217;m fortunate to win shooting 18 pars. That8217;s a tough call normally. Simon put up a great fight.8221;
Victory for the Indian came after two second places this season. Singh noted: 8220;I8217;ve knocked on the door a few times and at last it opened.8221;