ASH, England (PA) -- Pablo Larrazabal flew round the London Club in 122 minutes on the final day of the European Open -- but failed to take the money off South African Anton Haig.

The Spaniard, first out on his own, had bet Haig that he could get around in under 2 hours 15 minutes and in under 70 shots.

Larrazabal comfortably did it on time, but despite a par 3 on the 17th -- the hole where he ran up a sextuple-bogey 9 in the third round -- and a rare birdie on the 471-yard last, he scored 71.

It meant no cash exchanged hands between the two because it was "double or quits" bet following Barcelona's win over Manchester United in the Champions League soccer finale last Wednesday.

"I had nothing to lose and it was fun to play that way," said Larrazabal, who went to school with Barcelona midfield star Andres Iniesta. "I was eight shots better than yesterday."

Larrazabal was so quick that when he went to hand in his scorecard, he found the door to the scorer's room locked. Nobody was expecting him back so soon.

TOUR STRENGTHENS LONDON CLUB TIES: The European Tour has been so impressed by the London Club's staging of the last two European Opens that officials are becoming more associated with the venue.

"It's spearheading our future property strategy and will become a European Tour Destination," said European Tour Executive Director George O'Grady. "This is part of our new strategy of being on really big championship courses that have development potential and are acceptable to our membership.

"If there have been any complaints on the golf course at all, they have not come to my ears," he added. "And we're looking for similar opportunities in other parts of Europe."

In association with Dubai-based Leisurecorp, the Tour's biggest financial backers, prize money in the European Open this year was cut from nearly $3.6 million to about $2.3 million.

"It's really important for the European Tour that in troubled times you've got tough partners who stick with you and who believe in the dream of the European Open and where it goes," O'Grady added. "To drop the prize money was a realistic decision. We've kept the European Open going and I don't think you have too much to apologize for."

A decision will be made in the next few weeks whether the tournament stays at the club next season. Leisurecorp owns Turnberry in Scotland, where the British Open is being held next month, and may want to showcase that again.

SINGH HOPES FOR OLYMPIC CHANCE: Jeev Milkha Singh has spelled out the importance of the coming vote on whether golf should be part of the Olympics.

"I think it will be the best thing to happen for India," said Singh. "Golf not being an Olympic sport we have not been getting any funding from the government. Hopefully in October it does and I think what happens after that is the government is going to allocate land in each and every city to have a public driving range so that a normal human being can go there and try a hand at it.

"That's when it's going to be really big in our country," he added. "It's the fastest-growing sport in our country, but it's the only way this game is going to get famous and close to cricket.

"Our population is more than a billion and I'm sure there's going to be a lot of talent out there," he explained. "I don't think there's a public driving range in our country and there's only one public golf course right now. Everything is private.

"I remember there were a lot of good players when I was growing up who just didn't take it up -- they just went back to the parents' business."

Singh, currently 39th in the world, has won twice in Europe and all around Asia, but he is still not even the most famous member of his family in his homeland.

His father, Milkha Singh, was a running star known as "the Flying Sikh" who briefly held the 400-meter world record and then worked with the government to promote sport.

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