DUBAI, United Arab Emirates — Nicolai Hojgaard claimed the largest title of his profession Sunday after working off 5 straight birdies down the stretch to overtake Tommy Fleetwood and win the season-ending World Tour Championship by two strokes on the European tour.
The 22-year-old Dane delivered a clinic in iron play to arrange close-range birdies from Nos. 13-17, shoot 8-under 64 and end the match on 21-under par.
Fleetwood, enjoying within the closing group, bogeyed No. 17 so needed to eagle the par-5 final gap. His third shot settled past the flag, prompting Hojgaard to have fun within the scoring hut.
He has received a match for 3 consecutive years on the European tour, however this was simply his largest and earned him $3 million. Coming off the again of being a rookie within the profitable European workforce on the Ryder Cup exterior Rome final month, it has been an ideal finish to the yr to one of the extremely rated younger gamers on the continent.
“The one factor lacking was a win,” stated Hojgaard, who was two photographs behind strolling off the twelfth inexperienced. “And to get it this week is unbelievable.
“That is the sweetest approach to end the yr.”
Fleetwood (68) completed in a tie for second place with Viktor Hovland (68) and third-round chief Matt Wallace (69) on a day when the lead modified repeatedly at Jumeirah Golf Estates.
Whereas Nicolai Hojgaard was in a position to have fun, it proved to be one thing of a painful day for his twin brother, Rasmus.
He appeared to be on target to assert one of many 10 PGA Tour playing cards on provide to the highest 10 gamers within the season-ending Race to Dubai rankings who should not already exempt.
A half-hour stretch on the 18th gap modified every little thing, although. Rasmus Hojgaard hit his second shot into the water guarding the inexperienced and solely made par. Matthieu Pavon adopted him and hit a wedge inside 2 ft for a birdie that lifted him above Hojgaard, who missed out on PGA Tour standing by lower than 27 factors.
The ten gamers to get doubtlessly profitable playing cards throughout the Atlantic had been Adrian Meronk, Ryan Fox, Victor Perez, Thorbjørn Olesen, Alexander Björk, Sami Valimaki, Robert MacIntyre, Pavon, Jorge Campillo and Ryo Hisatsune.
Nicolai Hojgaard jumped to second place within the Race to Dubai rankings behind Rory McIlroy, who had already been topped as European golf’s No. 1 participant for the fifth time.
