Fabrizio Zanotti on cloud nine after Maybank Championship victory
Sunday 12 February 2017 16:55, UK
Fabrizio Zanotti says his unlikely run to victory at the Maybank Championship in Malaysia has to go down as the highlight of his career so far.
Zanotti started the final round at Saujana six shots behind Masters champion Danny Willett, but he carded seven birdies and an eagle in his final 18 holes to take the title by a shot.
The Paraguayan was still three shots adrift of new leader David Lipsky with four holes remaining, but birdies at 15 and 17 were followed up by his eagle at the last, where he claimed the solo lead for the first time.
Zanotti's performance was all the more surprising given his three other appearances in 2017 had all ended with missed cuts.
"I think it was probably the best round of my career," Zanotti said. "It was a really good day, a really good week and I'm really happy.
"I think it was at the 15th where I thought I might be able to win, when I made birdie there. I thought, maybe I'll have a chance if I make two more birdies, but I made a birdie and an eagle so it was great.
"To shoot nine under on the last day to win a golf tournament is incredible. I have been working a lot with my coach and with my team and I've been making some changes.
"I think this is because of all that hard work. I missed the last three cuts but I was hitting the ball well and was not unhappy with the way I was hitting it. This week I just came here and tried to take it easy."
Lipsky had a chance to force a play-off on the 72nd green but he could not convert a birdie putt and had to settle for second, a result good enough to significantly improve his chances of a place in the WGC-Mexico Championship.
"I'm really happy with this week all in all," the American said.
"My goal was to finish top three or so to try and lock myself up for the WGC in Mexico and I did that so I'm pretty proud of the way I handled myself this week.
"I did the best I could do. Hats off to Fabrizio because he played great; 63 in the final round, most of the time that's going to get the job done, so I can't think too much about it."
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