GOLF

OLIVER FISHER narrowly missed out on an historic European Tour victory - but is being tipped to make the same impact on golf as superstar Tiger Woods.

The 19-year-old lost in a play-off to France's Thomas Levet in the Andalucia Open.

The Chigwell-based pro, who led the field by three shots with six holes to play, would have become the fifth youngest player to win a European Tour event, but a bogey at the final hole forced a play-off and Levet's par bettered his bogey on the first extra hole.

Consecutive bogies at the 13th and 14th cut Fisher's lead to just one shot, and when his three-iron off the tee on the final hole found the water some 280 yards away, Levet capitalised. But Fisher was keen to take the positives as he moved up to 32nd place on the European Order of Merit.

"I would have loved to win, but I am sure there will be more chances," he reflected. "I got myself into contention and played pretty nicely.

"You learn from your mistakes - you have to learn to lose before you learn to win almost."

Speaking of his tee shot on the 18th, Fisher said: "I just turned it over a little bit and it pitched 15 to 20 yards short of the water.

"The second time was always going to be a little hard after doing that."

But his conqueror Levet said: "He will probably be the next Nick Faldo because he is a great player," said the Frenchman.

"If he improves on Tour in two or three years he'll be like Tiger Woods - he's that good."