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Pablo Larrazabal has strongly criticised tournament officials after a controversial conclusion to the Maybank Malaysian Open.
Larrazabal’s compatriot Nacho Elvira was denied a maiden European Tour victory by Australia’s Scott Hend, who beat him on the first extra hole of a sudden-death playoff.
However, that was almost overshadowed by an incident that happened at the end of regulation play.
Trailing Hend by a shot as the pair arrived at the 72nd hole, Elvira was on the downswing of his approach when a loud clap of thunder distracted him. He ultimately caught his shot heavy and was left with a tricky 30-foot putt to catch Hend.
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At that point, play was suspended. When it resumed one hour and forty minutes later, Elvira nervelessly dispatched his putt to force the tournament into extra holes.
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The 32-year-old later dismissed the thunder as a stroke of bad luck. However, his fellow Spaniard Larrazabal was unhappy that play hadn’t been postponed sooner.
He tweeted:
Well… @EuropeanTour weather man had to call this in 15 minuts ago… they dont know how dangerous thunderstorms are… or what… @nachoelvira87 and all spanish golf didnt like that decision… NOT GOOD…
— Pablo Larrazabal (@plarrazabal) March 24, 2019
Guys… thats NOT unlucky… that is poor desicion from the weather man and tournament director… sorry… these guys are playing for a and for a lot of … this is @EuropeanTour … has to be more professional… please… https://t.co/2hNzG4RLPt
— Pablo Larrazabal (@plarrazabal) March 24, 2019
Ladies European Tour pro Sophie Walker was also watching and was equally impressed.
Unlucky? It’s dangerous https://t.co/hmyURkNodm
— Sophie Walker (@SophWalks) March 24, 2019
Malaysian Open finale – your thoughts
Do you think that the final round of the Malaysian Open should have been postponed sooner? Leave your thoughts in our Comments section below.
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