Siem Chips in to Win BMW Masters in Playoff


Germany's Marcel Siem chipped in for birdie on the first sudden-death playoff hole to beat Frenchman Alexander Levy and England's Ross Fisher and win the BMW Masters. The first of four tournaments in the European Tour's season-ending "Final Series" was held at Lake Malaren Golf Club in Shanghai, China.

The 34-year-old Siem could have won in regulation but missed a six-foot par putt that forced extra holes with Fisher and Levy, who all ended up at 16-under 272.

After firing a 63 Saturday, Levy began the day with a four-stroke edge over the field. But the 24-year-old struggled to a 6-over 78. Fisher had a stellar 67 to rise up the leaderboard into first.

At the end of the day Siem handled the wind-swept Kuala Lumpur course better than the others. Both Fisher and Levy also had their chances on the par-4 72nd hole, but Fisher missed his birdie try and Levy recorded his sixth bogey of the day. He also had two birdies and a double-bogey on the par-5 13th hole.

"I got off to a nice start with a birdie on the first and I knew with the windy conditions that it might be a little better chance to win the tournament," Siem told reporters. "Alex, unfortunately, didn't have his best day and I played very solid the front nine. And then the back nine were really, really tough.

"The golf course was the total opposite to the first three days. The course was a real monster and I'm super-pleased, still can't believe it. I'm over the moon. In the playoff, I thought I actually have to hole it just to stay in. I was expecting one of the guys to hole their putt actually. It's just fantastic. A chip-in is always cool, but to have it in a playoff is even cooler.

"I have never been in a position like this, to be honest, in such a big tournament. You try not to think about the prize money, but it's crazy prize money here (€1,600,000 for winning). I think the key today was not to have a double-bogey or triple-bogey somewhere and I managed to do that.

"People who know me know that finishing bogey, bogey, I don't like that and my emotions could go a little crazy sometimes. But I stayed really, really calm and I'm proud of that. I'm getting older, two kids now, so maybe that's the reason why."

Levy just wasn't able to adjust to the blustery conditions. "It was a totally different course, but I tried to do my best," he said. "I hit the good shot at some holes and I do to try my best. But if I want to win the tournament, shoot 6 over the last round, it's not like that you win a tournament."

He was impressed with Siem, who picked up his fourth title on the European Tour. "He deserved to win today because he played fantastic in the wind," Levy said. "It's nice for him, and I'm not very disappointed because I played three days amazing golf and I think I need to keep that in my mind. Today was a special day with the wind, and it was not very easy for me. I've got to work on that and to be more strong during the difficult weather like that."

Fisher's 67 was the low round of the day and one of only four in the 60s. "Going out today 11 behind you never expect to have a chance," the 33-year-old from Ascot said. "I'm thinking, just go out there and shoot a good score.

"If it gets me a top-10 that would be great, and obviously it was playing tough and I think I had the best round of the day by quite some margin. I can only walk away from here very delighted and pleased with the way I played."

Finishing just a stroke out of the playoff were England's Justin Rose (72) and Welshman Jamie Donaldson (75). Two shots further back were France's Romain Wattel (70) and Belgian Nicolas Colsaerts (71).

Tied for eighth at 275 were American Ryan Palmer and Argentina's Emiliano Grillo (72).

For complete scoring details, visit http://www.europeantour.com/europeantour/season=2014/tournamentid=2014086/leaderboard/index.html.