Viktor Hovland produced a surprising end to win the Slync.io Dubai Desert Traditional in a play-off after two-time winner Rory McIlroy blew his probabilities of a 3rd title on the final gap.
Hovland lined his final three holes in 4 beneath par to power a sudden-death decider earlier than edging out Englishman Richard Bland on the primary additional gap at Emirates Golf Membership.
McIlroy had appeared to have the event inside his grasp, holding a share of the lead heading down the stretch together with his closest rivals having all completed.
Nevertheless, after scrambling a par following a poor tee shot on the seventeenth, he then discovered the water on the final and the ensuing bogey meant he signed for a closing 71 and completed on 11 beneath, one behind Hovland and Bland, who went on to replay the 18th.
Hovland discovered the inexperienced in two on the par 5 and sealed victory, his first in a Rolex Sequence occasion, with a two-foot birdie putt.
“That is fairly wild, I didn’t actually assume this was attainable going into at this time,” Hovland informed Sky Sports activities in an interview performed by Bland’s coach – and TV presenter – Tim Barter.
“I knew I needed to shoot an actual low quantity however lots of issues needed to go my method. I’m grateful that it did.
Viktor Hovland celebrated with the trophy after successful the Dubai Desert Traditional (Kamran Jebreili/AP)
(AP)
“I used to be fuming after the three-putt on 15. I felt that was it. I simply needed to attempt to end off properly and I rolled a very lengthy one in on 16 after which, on 17, hey, we received a shot.
“I’m pumping proper now. It’s a bit surreal.”
The victory was Hovland’s third in his final 5 begins – he additionally overturned a six-shot deficit to win the Hero World Problem in December – and takes him to a career-high third on this planet rankings.
“It’s fairly wild,” he added. “Earlier this week I used to be as much as fifth and I used to be getting questions on how that felt.
“Extra of the identical, I assume. Being quantity three is fairly loopy, however that stuff can fluctuate week to week and I’m not going to let that stuff dictate my temper or how I do issues. However it is rather rewarding to see all of the laborious work paying off.”
Hovland’s likelihood appeared to have gone when he bogeyed the fifteenth, however the 24-year-old then holed from 35 toes for birdie on the sixteenth and eagled the par-four seventeenth after driving the inexperienced.
That coincided with in a single day chief Justin Harding successfully seeing his hopes disappear with a triple-bogey on the eleventh, though McIlroy nonetheless appeared in cost after salvaging a bogey on the tenth and selecting up photographs on the eleventh and thirteenth.
McIlroy had appeared properly positioned to take the title (Kamran Jebreili/AP)
(AP)
Hovland, additional forward on the course, was not carried out but, although, and he claimed one other birdie on the final to report a 66 and set a clubhouse goal of 12 beneath.
This was later matched by Bland, who – after three successive birdies across the flip – additionally birdied the seventeenth and 18th to hitch Hovland.
McIlroy didn’t make the most of the reachable seventeenth after a pulled tee shot after which went for the inexperienced from 267 yards on the 18th, solely to slice his strategy into the water.
After taking a penalty drop, McIlroy hit a very good wedge to fifteen toes however noticed his par putt catch the fitting fringe of the opening and keep out.
That left Hovland and Bland, who’s having fun with a late profession renaissance after his victory finally yr’s British Masters, to struggle it out.
Hovland held his nerve and Bland, regardless of a superb chip onto the inexperienced, was unable to match the Norwegian’s birdie.
England’s Sam Horsfield and Tyrell Hatton have been in a gaggle of 5 to complete on eight beneath, together with Harding. Tommy Fleetwood pale to complete six beneath alongside final yr’s winner Paul Casey.
Kaynak: briturkish.com
