It was an understandably elated Brendan who talked over the closing holes of his final round at the Mitsui Sumitomo Visa Taiheiyo Masters, relating an unbelievable story of how he finished birdie, eagle to edge out Japan's number one, Toru Taniguchi, to win the event and the ¥30 million first prize. It was Brendan's second win of the season and his 7th on the Japan Golf Tour.

"I played quite solidly over the first nine holes today but then hit a couple of loose shots at the 12th and 14th holes to lose the lead," said Brendan from Tokyo this evening. "I hit the most perfect 5 iron to the 17th, probably the best 5 iron I have ever hit to four feet and with Toru (Taniguchi) making par we were tied playing the 18th. The 18th is a par five but very reachable and I knew that I had an advantage if I could find the fairway as I am a little longer from the tee than Toru. Unfortunately I missed the fairway and had a little bit of a flyer lie. I had 187 yards to the front and much of it over water. I wanted to take the water out of play so hit it to the left side of the green and hit a good shot although it was some 50 feet from the hole."

"Toru missed the green just right with his second and even though I was on the green and he wasn't, I was first to play. My putt had to come up over the tier in the green and I holed it!! Toru then had to hole his chip from off the right side of the green and very nearly did so but when he missed I had won. It caps off a remarkable year really what with the arrival of Kieran and now this it is my best year and hopefully there is more to come in the last few events."

Brendan has moved to third place on the Japan Golf Tour money list with ¥82 million and after a big night of celebration tonight in Tokyo will head tomorrow to Miyazaki in Southern Japan for next week's Dunlop Phoenix tournament.              

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