Paul Lawrie was still the Open champion when Anthony Wall last won a European Tour event so Archerfield Links was a fitting place for the Englishman to return to the winner’s circle.
The 41-year-old ended a wait of 16 years and 204 days for his second tour title by defeating the favourite Alex Noren in yesterday’s final of the Aberdeen Asset Management Paul Lawrie Match Play.
In completing an unlikely triumph, Wall, whose maiden victory was the Alfred Dunhill Championship in South Africa in January 2000, surpassed the longest gap between European Tour wins – held by American Tom Kite since 1996 – by 168 days.
The blustery conditions, which saw gusts reaching 40 miles per hour, made life difficult for the players but it was Wall’s excellent short game that helped earn a one hole victory against Scottish Open champion Noren.
It had looked a tall order for Wall when Noren established the early advantage by rolling home birdie putts on the opening two holes for an early lead – but the Englishman fought back by winning the third, sixth and 11th before eventually completing his victory with a par at the last.
Wall admitted he was stunned to pick up his second tour victory – 430 events after his first.
He said: “Sixteen years is a long time. That is a career for most golfers so it feels incredible.
“I am so proud to still be doing my job at 41, let alone win again.
“I beat some good players to get to the final but if I was ever going to suffer a blow-out it was going to be today as I have probably only played in conditions like that three times in my life.
“Alex is a pure flusher and he played lovely so I’m stunned and amazed to win. It’s incredible.”
Despite his long wait for a second tour victory, Wall believes he is playing the best golf his career.
Wall, who earned £142,900 for his victory, said: “I actually think I’m a lot better than I used to be. Everyone just seems really good nowadays. It’s really quite strange.
“I feel like I’ve got better every year. It’s a very odd thing to quantify how you work every day of your life and it takes 16 more years to win.
“But clearly everyone else is working just as hard, if not harder but I feel like I’m playing far better than I ever did.
“I think your first win is probably always the most special but certainly in golfing terms, this is the most satisfying.
“I’m just pleased my family are able to see it.
“My mum, my dad, my brother, and all my friends were watching and my sons Patrick and Nicholas, who are 12 and 11, are old enough to understand that their dad is a winner.
“I had the usual worries that it was never going to happen again.
“When I won, my children weren’t even born. That’s how long ago it was.
“That means as much to me as anything; the fact that they know their dad can do it.”
