Archer slips – but still in top 20

Mar 4 2008 by Richard Williamson, Liverpool Daily Post

PHILLIP ARCHER suffered a disappointing final day in India to slip down the leaderboard at the Johnnie Walker Classic.

The Warrington golfer had gone into the last round in fourth place on eleven under par and within striking distance of his first European Tour title.

However dropped shots on the closing two holes at the DLF Golf and Country Club in New Delhi saw the Birchwood-attached player return a two over par 74.

That left Archer on nine under for the event and a final finishing position of 17th. The consolation for Archer was that it represented the first top 20 finish of the 2008 programme for the 35-year-old and saw him improve his status in the European Order of Merit to 82nd.

Archer had opened with a level par 72, with three birdies offset by three bogeys, but leapt into contention on day two with a stunning eight under par 64.

Starting at the tenth, he picked up birdies at the 11th and 15th before landing an eagle on the par five 18th. Four more birdies on the front nine sealed a spectacular round.

Day three started with two birdies and two bogeys on the front nine, before four birdies in the space of five holes from the turn strengthened Archers position. A dropped shot on the 15th halted the charge but he still signed for a three under par 69.

Although he secured two birdies over the front nine on the last day, dropped shots at three and nine were compounded by a double bogey six on the seventh. Archer threatened to pull things round with birdies at 10 and 15 before the late slip-up cost him an 11th place finish.