Golfer Slattery breaks title drought at 183rd attempt

England's Lee Slattery won his first European Tour title at the 183rd attempt on Sunday when he survived a mistake-plagued start and a disastrous seven at the final hole to take the Madrid Masters by one shot. The 33-year-old, who finished with a 71 for a 15 under par total, had been two clear at the start of the final round, but bogeyed two of his first five holes to allow Argentine veteran Cesar Monasterio and Italian Lorenzo Gagli to close in. Slattery then composed himself to hit four birdies in five holes from the 11th as he found himself three clear with three to play. But on the final hole, he hit his second shot into a bunker, and then pushed his approach into the water to the right of the green. A chip left him with two putts from 10 feet, and he holed a two footer to secure a one shot win over Gagli. "I've never shaken so much in my life. I've been out here for seven years and now I believe I can win. That's been the biggest problem over the last few years," said Slattery. "I come from a normal working class background. My mum and dad have done everything they can for us and I got kind of emotional walking down the last - I know how much it's going to mean for them. "I struggled for a time and had to work in a clothes shop. Working in that shop actually helped me, it certainly grounded me and made me realize I don't want to do that." The victory was all the sweeter for a player who lost his card by just €77 in 2007 and had to return to The Challenge Tour last year after again slipping out of the top 115 in 2009. "I remember when I got my Tour card for the first time and my Dad said to me: 'You haven't made it yet, you've got to win an event' and he's kind of right. The belief I've got now after winning is tremendous and I want to win more." World number one and defending champion Luke Donald finished with a level par 72 to be tied for 11th.