Alexander Levy wins rain-affected Portugal Masters
Alexander Levy admitted it felt “a little bizarre” to be celebrating victory in the Portugal Masters despite only playing one hole all weekend.
The Frenchman was on the second hole of the third and final round at Oceânico Victoria when another torrential downpour flooded the course, and he was confirmed the winner when the decision was made to declare the tournament after 36 holes.
On Friday the event had been reduced to three rounds after thunderstorms severely disrupted play, and Levy was one of only two groups to finish before darkness fell. By that time he had compiled two stunning rounds of 63 and 61 for an 18 under par total, which remained untouched when the rest of the field completed round two on Saturday.
Nicolas Colsaerts, who on Thursday came within a whisker of carding the first 59 in European Tour history, ultimately settling for a 60, was his closest challenger on 15 under par.
The Belgian was set for a final day tussle with Levy, but Mother Nature had other ideas when 12mm of rain fell in the space of half an hour just after the leaders had teed off.
It’s a little bizarre because I’ve played four shots at the weekend and won the tournament “It’s not the same as 72 holes, but I’ll take it,” said the 24 year old, who won his maiden European Tour title earlier this year at the Volvo China Open.
“It’s a win and I played really well over 36 holes. Eighteen under par for two rounds is a very good score.
“It’s a little bizarre because I’ve played four shots at the weekend and won the tournament.
“I was very focused for today’s round, and even when we came off I was preparing myself for the restart. But it’s very special and a very nice feeling.
“If you’d have told me at the start of the season that I’d win twice, I wouldn’t have believed you.”
