Abby Brammell

By Derek Lawrenson

Big finish: Khan celebrates sinking his birdie putt on the last hole


When Simon Khan reacquainted himself with his daughter, Ruby, on the 18th green at Wentworth on Sunday it was difficult to say whose face was more animated.

Four-year-old Ruby's was painted in an idyllic beach scene featuring dolphins and seagulls; as for Simon, he was quite clearly in paradise as well. Imagine what it was like for this 37-year-old son of Essex who used to take on Ian Poulter an age ago when both were assistant professionals; who went to every tournament at Wentworth as an excited teenager.

Now here he was, following a holed 20-foot birdie putt for a 66 that stood every chance of winning the European Tour's flagship event, the BMW PGA Championship

Khan had got into the tournament this time last week only on a sponsor's invitation.

Nine months ago he didn't even know if he would be making a living any more on the big stage after losing his Tour card. Here he watched his final putt go all the way round the hole and look like staying out before the gods of sporting romance dragged it back in for an idyllic tale of make-believe for the ages.

Khan was fully aware that fellow Englishman Luke Donald could still have beaten him if he had found one birdie over the final five holes.

But what chance did Donald have on this day that fate had clearly decreed should belong to the underdog? The only thing the luckless Donald found was a double bogey at the 17th and so the last man into the field was the man holding the trophy at the end.

An Englishman led this tournament after every round but it is meant as no insult to Khan to say that he would have been the least favoured going into the final round.

There were four Englishmen among the dozen players ahead of him, for example.


Leading the way: Khan plays a magnificent approach shot at the 18th on the West Course at Wentworth


But nobody loves Wentworth in any of its guises more than Khan and this was the day when his affection was returned. While virtually everyone else struggled thanks to a set-up that resembled a United States Open in its difficulty, Khan marched into contention thanks to a stirring front nine of 32 strokes.

Khan has always been a fine iron player and how a series of crisp, authoritative strokes served him well. When he got to the ninth he couldn't help but smile and think back, as a train rolled gently by. He used to get that train himself to attend tournaments here: first the bus to Walthamstow, followed by the tube to Victoria before finally getting the above ground service to Virginia Water.

He thought of his battles against Poulter, when the pair took time out from selling sweaters and Mars bars.

'I used to win my fair share as well,' said Khan.

By the time he got to the 13th it had dawned on him that he had a chance to emulate the fairytale nature of Poulter's victory in the Accenture Match Play Championship last February and win himself.


'I was definitely feeling the pressure by that stage,' said Khan.
'I left a putt short and I could feel my insides tightening.'

How did he relax? 'I reminded myself that this is what I always dreamed of doing, to be playing professional golf and particularly to have a chance of winning this tournament,' he said.

'This event is the reason I started playing the game in the first place.'

So to the fateful last hole and the putt he will remember for the rest of his life.

He admitted that, after eight years on tour, he took his eye off the ball last year and lost his card.

He claimed it back by winning the European Tour Qualifying School last November, but life had got no easier up to this event. He was 153rd in the Race to Dubai.

One week can change everything in this game. He has not only won for the first time since his 2004 Wales Open victory, he's also earned a cheque for £640,000. Bye-bye worries about being gainfully employed next year: hello a five-year exemption and entry into many of the tournaments that matter for the rest of the year.

Just to complete the picture, it was his watching wife Lesley's birthday. Donald birdied the final hole to be joint runner-up with Swede Fredrik Andersson Hed.


Shaded out: Luke Donald finished tied second, a shot behind Khan's victorious lead


Fourth place went to the Scot Stephen Gallacher who, like Khan, didn't even know he was playing until last Monday.

For the two young Englishmen in the final two groups, it was a day for gaining invaluable experience. Third-round leader Chris Wood, 22, never managed a birdie all day and finished with a 77; Danny Willett, also 22, finished fifth after birdieing the final hole. They will learn. They are prodigious talents and have plenty of ambition.


Sun kissed: Khan soaks up his success in the glorious weather at Wentworth


This was a day, however, for a man who came up the hard way - a world away from the rarefied air of the top amateur occupied by the other two.

'This means everything,' said Khan and the biggest crowd in the history of this event were only too happy to give him his due.


source: dailymail