Matt Wallace conjures up magical chip-in for birdie at Italian Open
Monday 16 October 2017 11:28, UK
Matt Wallace produced one of the most amazing shots of the European Tour season as he added to the excitement down the stretch at the Italian Open.
Wallace, the leader after 54 holes, needed something special to force his way back into contention on the final day after he slipped two strokes off the pace with a costly bogey-six at the par-five 14th - the easiest hole at Golf Club Milano.
His race looked run when he missed the green with his approach to the 17th and left himself facing a huge task just to get up-and-down to save par.
After considering a flop-shot with the green sloping away from him towards the front-right flag, Wallace opted to play a bump-and-run with a less-lofted iron, reducing the degree of difficulty in the hope of giving himself a chance to have a putt for par.
Wallace clipped his ball into the greenside bank and onto the putting surface at some pace, but it was on a great line and cannoned into the centre of the pin before dropping for an unlikely three which prompted wild celebrations from the galleries.
Even clubhouse leader Ross Fisher was impressed as Wallace got to within a shot of the lead, but he would ultimately come up two strokes shy as he could only scramble a par at the last while playing partner Tyrrell Hatton rolled in a 20-foot birdie putt to snatch a thrilling victory.
Watch the video above to see Wallace's amazing chip-in for birdie on the 17th at the Italian Open ...
