Team England held off Team World to defend their Reignwood Icons of Football title with a 20-19 victory.
Team World launched a valiant fightback from 13.5-10.5 down going into the last afternoon singles session but Manchester United icon Lee Sharpe delivered the winning putt as he beat Andriy Shevchenko to give Team England an unassailable lead in the third to last match-up.
Each match was played over 10 holes and had match play scoring in place similar to the Ryder Cup and Solheim Cup. A match win was worth one point for a team, although a bonus point was on offer matches win by a score of 4up or more.
Team England relied on singles wins from Phil Jones, Phil Jagielka, Joe Hart and Jermaine Jenas to withstand a late Team World charge.
The most anticipated match of the weekend saw Jimmy Bullard go up against Gareth Bale – the only two scratch handicappers in a field of 24 players including John Terry, Ruud Gullit and Teddy Sheringham.
Bale fought back from 4Down to score half a point and said it brought back some football memories.
“We said on the 18th tee, imagine how Shane Lowry felt [at the Ryder Cup]. Then we spoke about, in a football match in a final in the last minute, they wouldn’t like to feel that. So I guess they are in their comfort zone.
“People say to me ‘are you going to turn professional?’. You don’t understand how good these pros are. They need more respect than they get.
“I’m an OK club golfer. I love it as a hobby. But these guys are under the most serious pressure, toughest conditions. They are beyond belief.”
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Bullard added: “It was very ugly! I’m used to winning like that with Wigan!
“It’s tiring! I still enjoyed it. It almost brought me back to my football days.”
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