Nicolai Hojgaard finishes two forward of Ryder Cup team-mates Tommy Fleetwood and Viktor Hovland and in a single day chief Matt Wallace; Jon Rahm stocks 5th position as Race to Dubai champion Rory McIlroy ends week in tied-Twenty second
By way of Ali Stafford
Ultimate Up to date: 19/11/23 12:48pm
Nicolai Hojgaard claimed a two-shot victory in Dubai
Nicolai Hojgaard produced a sensational back-nine birdie run to carry off Ryder Cup team-mates Tommy Fleetwood and Viktor Hovland and declare a dramatic victory on the season-ending DP International Excursion Championship.
Hojgaard overturned a three-stroke deficit right through an exciting last around at Jumeirah Golfing Estates, the place he fired 5 consecutive birdies from the thirteenth to card an eight-under 64 and set the clubhouse goal at 21 beneath.
The birdie burst pulled the 22-year-old forward of Hovland, Fleetwood and in a single day chief Matt Wallace, who all required a final-hole eagle to check the Dane’s general and power a play-off.
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Tommy Fleetwood climbed into the early lead after a surprising birdie-eagle begin to his last around
Hovland may just most effective scramble a final par after discovering the danger together with his method into the par-five ultimate and Wallace discovered water off the tee, with Hojgaard’s 3rd DP International Excursion victory showed when Fleetwood used to be not able to gap his 3rd shot from the golf green.
The chasing trio all carded final pars to finish the week in tied-second on 19 beneath, with protecting champion Jon Rahm sharing 5th after a final-round 66 and Race to Dubai winner Rory McIlroy signing off his season in tied-Twenty second after a two-under 70.
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Rory McIlroy produced a surprising 70-foot birdie right through his last around in Dubai
How Hojgaard prevailed in epic finale
Fleetwood began the day one adrift however instantly jumped two transparent when he adopted an eight-foot birdie on the first by means of pouring in from 40 toes to eagle the par-five subsequent, as Hovland cancelled out a birdie at the second one with a bogey on the subsequent to fall 3 at the back of.
The Englishman did not stand up and down from the sand to save lots of par on the fourth, permitting Hojgaard – the midway chief – to get inside of one when he additionally picked up a shot at the second one and fired back-to-back positive factors from the 5th.
Wallace ended a run of pars with a 40-foot birdie on the 6th to drag stage with Fleetwood however bogeyed the following after a wayward pressure ended in a penalty drop, whilst Hovland rolled in from 15 toes on the 5th and posted successive birdies from the 7th to edge into the solo lead on 18 beneath.
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Matt Wallace made an enormous birdie on the 6th gap to briefly transfer right into a proportion of the lead
Hovland misplaced his outright merit with a bogey on the 9th, with Hojgaard briefly restoring a three-way tie after he adopted a front-nine 33 with a birdie to start out his again 9, then Fleetwood made a close-range birdie on the tenth to reclaim best spot.
Fleetwood left himself a identical birdie on the eleventh to double his merit, however Hojgaard charged again into competition when he cancelled out a dropped shot on the twelfth by means of changing from 8 toes on the thirteenth and two-putting from 35 toes so as to add any other birdie on the par-five subsequent.
Tommy Fleetwood carded a four-under 68 at the last day
Rahm strengthened his hopes of a ancient fourth DP International Excursion Championship win when he made 3 birdies in a four-hole stretch from the 7th and registered 3 in a row from the thirteenth, taking him to inside of two strokes, as Hovland added to his birdie tally on the 14th to get inside of one.
Hojgaard persevered his birdie streak over the following two holes and added any other from 4 toes on the par-three seventeenth, his 5th in a row, to revive his one-shot lead after Fleetwood had in short levelled by means of slotting in from 15 toes on the fifteenth.
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Joost Luiten misplaced his motive force up a tree after which misplaced two extra golf equipment seeking to retrieve it right through the general day
Hovland saved his hopes alive with birdies on the 14th and sixteenth as Wallace additionally inspired overdue on with 3 birdies in a four-hole stretch, together with from 30 toes on the par-three seventeenth as Fleetwood three-putted for bogey.
Hojgaard gave hope to the sphere with a close-range birdie leave out on the ultimate, leaving the chasing trio requiring a final-hole eagle to power a play-off, however all 3 may just most effective end with a par as they completed two again.
Rahm shared 5th spot on 17 beneath along Mathieu Pavon – who birdied his ultimate 4 holes – and Thriston Lawrence, who claimed a three-birdie end, with Victor Perez an extra stroke again in 8th after 5 birdies in his ultimate 8 holes.
Hojgaard happy with ‘improbable win’
Hojgaard’s victory is his first at the DP International Excursion since February 2022 and is ready to transport him within the global’s best 50, whilst additionally seeing him finish the marketing campaign moment within the season-long Race to Dubai standings.
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Nicolai Hojgaard used to be visibly emotional after a final-round 64 noticed him declare the DP International Excursion Championship
“It is the sweetest one and such a lot onerous paintings has been put within the ultimate couple of years – and this 12 months has been a actually just right 12 months,” Hojgaard stated. “I felt like the one factor that used to be lacking used to be a win and to get it this week on this box is improbable. I will’t imagine it is simply took place.
“Having that putt on 18 to near it out and it slips by means of, I felt find it irresistible used to be fairly a tricky second for me in fact. I used to be like, ‘Did it simply slip away? Do we need to pass in a play-off?’ However we regrouped and took it slightly simple. This feels superb.
“I’ve to mention that is most likely the most productive golfing I have performed in a event as a result of that is the most powerful box in my 3 wins. I am for sure going to experience this.”
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Rory McIlroy believes he nonetheless has masses extra to provide and goals extra profession Race to Dubai titles to catch the ones set by means of the likes of Seve Ballesteros and Colin Montgomerie
What is subsequent?
There may be lower than 96 hours between the 2023 Race to Dubai season completing and the 2024 marketing campaign beginning, with co-sanctioned occasions in each Australia and South Africa continue to exist Sky Sports activities.
The Fortinet Australian PGA Championship is continue to exist Thursday from 1.30am on Sky Sports activities Golfing, with the Joburg Open then on from 10am. Move the PGA Excursion, DP International Excursion, LPGA Excursion and extra with NOW.
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