Wislon victory down to lack of playing time

Sep 21 2008 By PA

Ryder Cup rookie Oliver Wilson revealed the extra motivation behind his brilliant victory with Henrik Stenson at Valhalla.

After being the only player on either side to sit out the opening day, Wilson was thrown in at the deep end in yesterday's foursomes against the unbeaten American pair of Phil Mickelson and Anthony Kim.

He and Stenson found themselves four down after just six holes but rallied to secure an amazing 2&1 victory, Wilson holing the winning birdie putt from 28ft on the 17th green.

And the 28-year-old from Mansfield revealed it was the knowledge he would not play again before today's singles that spurred him on to victory.

"I knew three or four holes before the 17th," Wilson said. "So I said to my caddie, 'We'd better make this one count because I want a 100% record.'

"I wanted to be out there, I wanted to play this afternoon because I felt like everything was good. But it probably spurred me on a little bit more to know that I wasn't and we just kept pressing on, and it just made it a bit more important.

"Not that we needed anything else to make it important, but it was just the way I felt, I guess."

Wilson is the only player ever to qualify for the European side without winning a tournament, recording four second places this season and seven in total on the European Tour.

And the former Walker Cup player feels all that has been missing has been holing that kind of putt as he did on 17.

"I felt like I've been waiting to hole that putt all year," he added.

"I've done quite a few things like that in my amateur career, and it's annoying that I haven't done it as a professional.

"I love team competition, and there's no better stage to do it on. I hit a lot of good putts today.

"I felt like I was due. To be in that situation, I was just excited to be able to hit the putt, and I hit a great putt, great read, and it all came true.

"It was a lot of fun, and that's why we play. I was really pleased when I saw the draw, to get Phil and Anthony. They played great yesterday.

"It was a big match because if we could go out there and get something from it, it was going to maybe quiet the crowd a little bit and get a bit of momentum going our way.

"Obviously after the start it wasn't looking good, but to come out on top against those two guys we felt was pretty good for the team."