Life gives second chances, and they should not be wasted. If not, just tell it to the Englishman Graeme Storm, who for missing a putt for par on the last hole of the last Masters of Portugal lost, for only 100 euros, his card to play the next season of the Tour.
Against such a backdrop, the winner of the 2007 Open de France faced a fourth trip to Qualifying School or a return to the Challenge Tour. Then Patrick Reed opted not to play in the Final Series (the major tournaments that closed last year’s season) and Storm, 38, moved up a rung on the European Tour Order of Merit and retained his card to play this season.
Just 84 days after that initial setback, he made the most of his second chance and won a second career European title, the BMW SA Open, defeating Rory McIlroy on the third play-off hole.
“This is a dream come true, especially after what happened to me last year with my card and everything,” he said. “I really learned a lot from that experience and I told myself to try to take the opportunity to get my life back with both hands, and I’ve done that this week It’s an amazing feeling. I knew if I could hang in there, I could get my chance and luckily it came.”
“It really means everything to me to be back in the winner’s circle. The truth is, I’ve been in hell and I’ve been able to get out. It’s been an absolute rollercoaster over the last year and a half, especially the end of last year. There was pressure today, but not the same pressure as trying to keep the European Tour card. It’s real pressure and something I don’t want to feel for too long.”
McIlroy had not played this tournament since 2009, and now he did so because of his friendship with the host of the event, his good friend Ernie Els.
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