Patrick Reed came through the leading pack with four birdies in the final six holes at Chapultepec Golf Club to claim a second WGC title. Picture by GETTY IMAGES

PATRICK Reed drowned out the ongoing criticisms over his bunkergate in the Bahamas to land his second World Golf Championships title in a thrilling finish in Mexico City.

Just when it looked as though Bryson DeChambeau, who has certainly public criticisms over his pace of play, was about to race to a first WGC title of his own, the final holes at Chapultepec Golf Club conspired to give Reed a race at the WGC-Mexico Championship.

Reed – who was accused of cheating by both Brooks Koepka and Paul Casey’s coach Peter Kostis in the build up the first WGC of the season – said: “It means a lot to win.

“One of our goals was to go out and win a golf tournament and try to get in that winner’s circle before Augusta.

“And to be able to go ahead and do it before I even got to the Florida Swing definitely gives me momentum and gives me the confidence that we’re playing really well.

“Now I just need to continue to grind, continue to work, and hopefully there’s more coming up soon,” added Reed, who was ranked World No. 14 going into the week.

“The putter was really hot. I felt like I was hitting a lot of really good putts, hitting it on my lines, and your speed has to be perfect. I felt like I was able to dial it in.

“It definitely helped me out today because I didn’t hit the ball that great on the front, had a lot of up-and-downs just to kind of hang around there.

“I knew if I was able to get a little hot with the ball-striking, I’d be able to rack up some birdies, and I was able to do that at the end.”

How Captain America emerged victorious despite ‘cheating’ calls

THE American Ryder Cup star – dubbed “Captain America” after his debut in 2016 at Hazeltine – emerged victorious from a battle that went one way and then the other.

DeChambeau, Jon Rahm, Reed and Erik van Rooyen all shared the lead at the turn, while World No. 1 Rory McIlroy and overnight leader Justin Thomas were just a shot back.

Patrick Reed pulled clear though, picking up four birdies in six holes from the 12^th.

That left the 2018 Masters winner with a two-stroke advantage going down the last and – despite a wild tee shot on the par four 18^th – he managed to compose himself for a two-putt bogey to post 18-under in the penultimate group.

That four-under 67 handed Reed a one-shot victory in the same Championship at which he claimed his first WGC title in 2014 – when it was staged at Miami’s Doral resort.

Victory moved the 29-year-old to the top of the Race to Dubai rankings.

DeChambeau’s six-under 65 earned him outright second place, while Reed’s fellow European Tour members Rahm and van Rooyen shared third spot on 15-under.

Rahm claimed he was struggling by the turn and said: “I mean, it was going to be very easy to focus on the last few putts that weren’t good. It is what it is.

“But to be honest, I was not good through 27 holes. The fact I had no chance and shot 19-under after that, it’s pretty ridiculous.

“If anything, I’ve got to reflect on the first two days. I did give myself a chance, but my swing wasn’t feeling the best three out of four days, and today it showed.

“I kind of pulled it together, but it was hard to catch with Bryson making all those birdies. If anything, I had a chance, but I’ve got to focus more on the fact I should have given myself a better chance after the first few holes.”

First round leader McIlroy struggled to gain any momentum on the final day, but did continue his remarkably consistent recent form as he picked up a fifth successive top five – a run which began with his victory at the WGC-HSBC Champions, in Shanghai, in November.

McIlory said: “It was frustrating. I don’t feel like I got the best out of myself.

“Obviously I started the week well, and then I feel like I just hit some loose shots, and I didn’t putt as well as I needed to over the last three days.

“And I just let a few shots get away. I’m just looking forward to a week off. Looking forward to getting away for a little bit.”

•For final scores click here.

Van Rooyen happy to be in contention

ERIK van Rooyen found himself in exalted company, and having struggled when in contention in Europe over the last 18 months, was happy with the way the 30-year-old acquitted himself in contention for a WGC for the first time.

Van Rooyen: “I felt better than I did yesterday, and I think there was a lot more going on yesterday. I got off to a really good start again today. Ten and 12 obviously hurt quite bad.

“I think I played some really good golf the last four days, and I think I can hold my head high,” said the South African, whose first European Tour win came in the Scandinavian Invitation, in August.

“I mean, there’s still so much to play for. Yes, we all want to win, but at the same time, I’m trying to finish as high as I possibly can, so I’m not going to go lie down after a bogey.

“I think we had a really good finish, gave myself a few good chances coming down the stretch, and my game is in great shape. I’m looking forward to the next one,” added van Rooyen.

Keopka and Kostis call out Reed over ‘cheating’

BROOKS Koepka claimed Patrick Reed had “built sandcastles” during the Hero World Challenge in the Bahamas in December.

The winner of last year’s USPGA title told SiriusXM’s PGA Tour Radio: “Yeah. I don’t know what he was doing, building sand castles in the sand.

“But you know where your club is. I took three months off and I can promise you I know if I touch sand.

“If you look at the video, obviously he grazes the sand twice and then he still chops down on it.”

Reed was tackled over the comments about his behaviour at the end of the first round in Mexcio.

“I said what I have to say about what happened in the Bahamas, and at the end of the day, all I’m trying to do is go out and play good golf and trying to win a golf championship and hopefully run [leader Rory McIlroy] down,” said Reed, who was also made fun of by his team-mates during practice at The Presidents Cup.

There was also an ugly scene where Reed’s caddie Kessler Karain intervened to deal with a heckling spectator during the third day’s play, and was removed from the competition after the confrontation, forcing Reed’s coach Kevin Kirk to go on the bag for the Sunday singles.

Even worse, Kostis, who has been a CBS on course regular for many years until this season, was even more scathing telling the No Laying Up podcast Kostis added, “I’ve seen Patrick Reed improve his lie, up close and personal, four times now.”

But whatever anyone’s take on the rights and wrongs of Reed’s behaviour on the course, it appears to be water off a duck’s back.

The spotlight over his integrity appears to have given him an even thicker hide with which to block out the pressures of trying to win one of the biggest titles in world golf.

What the Augusta crowds, let alone the Augusta National Golf Club will make of Reed in less than two months’ time is anyone’s guess.

The post Nothing ruffles Patrick Reed who claims second WGC title down Mexico way appeared first on Golf North.

Louis Oosthuizen will defend the South African Open title he won at Randpark Golf Club in 2019 but face stiff competition from fellow countrymen including Branden Grace.
Picture by GETTY IMAGES.

DEFENDING champion Louis Oosthuizen would love to make a successful defence of his South African Open title.

But the 2010 Open Champion will have some serious competition from two more home favourites desperate to lift one of the oldest trophies in golf at Johannesburg’s Randpark GC this week.

Oosthuizen has been at the very top of the game ever since he claimed the Claret Jug at St Andrews.

He achieved another long held ambition when winning his national open for the first time 12 months ago.

With Ernie Els eligibile for the senior circuit since last season, Oosthuizen will now become the flagbearer for a proud golfing nation at the age of just 37… and he will have plenty of support.

While 20-somethings Christiaan Bezuidenhout, Brandon Stone and Erik van Rooyen are making a name for themselves at the start of their careers, experienced heads like Branden Grace and Charl Schwartzel continue to compete at the very top in their 30s.

Grace and Schwartzel have 19 European Tour wins between them including a Major Championship and a Rolex Series win – but have yet to lift the trophy at the second oldest open in golf.

And Oosthuizen knows all too well how special ending the long wait for that victory is.

“It means a lot,” Oosthuizen said. “I was wanting to win it for a long time. It’s always nice coming back and just playing it, defending it is very special.

“It was a tournament I was really trying to get to win with all the great champions on there: Ernie, Retief (Goosen), Mr Player, all of them. I wanted to have my name on the trophy.

“It was nice having a big lead at the end there so I could take it all in,” added Louis, who will play alongside Bezuidenhout on the Bushwillow Course, at 8.35am local time, in Thursday’s first round.

The last player to win the South African Open back to back was another South African Major winner Trevor Immelman in 2003 and 2004 – the second victory four years before he claimed a Green Jacket at the Augusta Masters.

Schwartzel – the 2011 Masters winner – secured his seventh top five at this event last season.

But the South African – who claimed the Brabazon Trophy at the English Amateur Strokeplay at Royal Cinque Ports, in Kent 18 years ago as an 17-year-old – saw the rest of his 2019 campaign derailed by a wrist injury.

A top three on his return at the Alfred Dunhill Championship before Christmas showed Charl is close to a full recovery.

And Schwartzel is aching to get over the line at Randpark Golf Club for a ninth European Tour win in South Africa – having won the Alfred Dunhill Championship at Leopark Creek four times between 2004 and 2015.

“It’s been a quest of mine for quite some time,” said Schwartzel. “I’ve come real close a lot of times, I’ve thrown one or two away, but at least I’ve been up there quite a few times.

“Hopefully I’ll break through. It’ll be a dream come true. As a South African, it’s definitely high on the list.”

Grace won his first European Tour title at the 2012 Joburg Open and has since added the biggest titles in South African golf with the Alfred Dunhill Championship, the Dimension Data Pro-Am and the Nedbank Golf Challenge.

And the 31-year-old feels a win this week can complete his set on home soil although three of the last five winners have been English – Sullivan, Graeme Storm (2017) and Chris Paisley (2018), although they all won at Glendower GC.

“This is the one that I’m missing,” Grace said. “This is the one that I need, this is the one that is short for me to win it all in South Africa.

“I’ve been close a few times now so hopefully the time is ticking on for me to put my hands on this one.

“It would mean the world,” added Grace, who will join Van Rooyen and 2015 winner Andy Sullivan in their three-ball, which tees off at 11.55am local time on the Firethorn Course.

The latter will host the weekend’s play after the 240-strong field have played a round on each of the two courses being used this week.

•For tee times for the first round of the South African Open hosted by the City of Johannesburg, click here. To follow first round scoring click here.

The post Oosthuizen bidding to match Immelman as back-to-back South African Open winner appeared first on Golf North.

European Tour Rookie of the Year Robert MacIntyre is one of young pretenders challenging for the 2020 Omega Dubai Desert Classic cro

EUROPEAN Tour Rookie of the Year Robert MacIntyre has added his name to a world-class Omega Dubai Desert Classic field in January.

The Scotsman, who claimed the Sir Henry Cotton Rookie of the Year Trophy in November, will be joined by Italy’s Guido Migliozzi and South Africans Christiaan Bezuidenhout and Erik van Rooyen, who all claimed maiden European Tour titles in 2019.

The crop of rising stars will be joined at Emirates Golf Club by Spaniard Adri Arnaus and Austrian Matthias Schwab, who themselves have both come close to a first victory this season, en route to finishing 41st and 17th on the 2019 Race to Dubai, respectively.

All six will arrive at Emirates Golf Club looking to emulate the success of defending champion Bryson DeChambeau.

The American, who has spent the last few months bulking up his physique, will return to Dubai.

The “Scientist” will be joined by past winners Rafa Cabrera Bello, Sergio Garcia, Haotong Li, Henrik Stenson and Danny Willett.

In addition, England’s Ryder Cup players Tommy Fleetwood, Matt Fitzpatrick, Tyrrell Hatton, Ian Poulter and Lee Westwood – along with Hertfordshire’s Matt Wallace – are all set to inject their own star quality into the 31^st edition of the event from January 23-26.

Following a stellar amateur career, MacIntyre has impressed since earning his card through the Challenge Tour rankings in 2018.

The left-hander came close to a maiden victory on several occasions – including runner-up finishes at both the British Masters and Made in Denmark.

McIntyre, who was beaten in the 2016 Amateur Championship final by Hampshire’s Scott Gregory, will be looking to rubber-stamp his rookie season with a first title early in 2020 – and the OMEGA Dubai Desert Classic will be one of his first opportunities to do so in the New Year.

“This year really couldn’t have gone much better,” said the 23-year old MacIntyre, who finished in a tie for sixth on his first Major appearance at the Open Championship at Royal Portrush, in July.

“I’ve come close to winning on a few occasions, which has been a great experience,” said McIntyre, who hails from Oban.

“I learned a lot each time and feel it is just a matter of time until I put it all together and win,” said the 11th Scot to win the Rookie of the Year award since 1960.

“If that were to be in Dubai, it would be amazing. The Scots have a pretty good record there, so I’d love to follow on from Stephen Gallacher and Colin Montgomerie by putting my name on the trophy too.”

Much like MacIntyre in 2019, Van Rooyen had spent much of the previous 18 months knocking on the door of a first European Tour title.

Erik Van Rooyen recorded his first win on the European Tour at the Scandinavian Invitataion.

That maiden win subsequently came earlier this year at the Scandinavian Invitation.

As one of the Tour’s brightest young stars, the 29-year old backed that up with three runner-up finishes and seven more top-10s, resulting in a career-best 10^th place finish on the Race to Dubai.

“This has been a great year, but I hope it’s just the beginning,” said Van Rooyen, who graduated from the Challenge Tour in 2017.

“To win in Sweden was an amazing moment in my career, but I have been just as pleased with the consistency I have shown this year.

“I want to build on this in 2020 and a win in Dubai, following in the footsteps of Ernie Els, would be amazing.

“I grew up watching him win all over the world and it would be great to achieve even a fraction of that myself,” said van Rooyen.

Migliozzi, fresh from a highly impressive first European Tour campaign, burst onto the scene in 2019.

Guido Migliozzi is the latest talent to emerge from Italy with two European Tour wins in 2019

Claiming two victories in almost as many months – at the Magical Kenya Open and Belgian Knockout – he finished 40th on the Race to Dubai, having contended with MacIntyre for the Sir Henry Cotton Rookie title.

The Italian will arrive in the United Arab Emirates looking to kickstart his second season in style by adding another title to his burgeoning résume.

“I cannot wait to play at Emirates Golf Club,” said 22-year old Migliozzi, who will be bidding to become the first Italian to win the Omega Dubai Desert Classic title.

“It has been an incredible first season, but I’m not going to stop here.

“I want this to be the start of a long career and the more I play in tournaments of this stature, the better I will get.

“I have not played in this event before, but I have heard great things, so I can’t wait to get going in January.”

It has been a roller-coaster journey for Bezuidenhout to get to this point in his career, including a controversial two-year drugs ban as an amateur, after taking beta-blockers for his anxiety and a serious stutter.

Victory at the Andalucia Masters in June – five years after his ban at The Amateur Championship was reduced to nine months allowing him to turn pro in 2015 – was a great example of triumph over adversity.

His victory was no flash in the pan, however, as the South African racked up an additional five top-10 finishes and moved up to 90th in the Official World Golf Ranking.

Rounding out the crop of emerging talent are Spain’s Adri Arnaus and Austria’s Matthias Schwab.

Austria’s Matthias Schwab

Spain’s Adri Arnaus

Arnaus posted six top-10 finishes in 2019, including runner-up finishes in Kenya and the Czech Republic, while Schwab narrowly lost out in a six-man play-off in Turkey – one of 10 top-10 results in just his second full season on the European Tour.

With Dubai’s four-day event set to be bigger and better than ever, offering an enhanced hospitality experience, contemporary food and beverage offers and a rejuvenated kids’ zone, in addition to a truly world-class field, you can book daily, season or terrace hospitality tickets with prices starting from AED75.

The inaugural Omega Dubai Desert Classic was played in 1989 and won by England’s Mark James, who went on to captain Europe in the Ryder Cup Battle of Brooline, in 1999.

Since then, the roll of honour has boasted some of the biggest names in golf over the past 30 years, including the likes of Seve Ballesteros, Fred Couples, Rory McIlroy, Colin Montgomerie and Tiger Woods.

•To purchase hospitality, season or daily tickets, click here. For more information on the Omega Dubai Desert Classic click here.

The post Rookie winner MacIntyre leads young charges at 2020 Omega Dubai Desert Classic appeared first on Golf North.

Dr Pawan Munjal gives 2019 Hero Challenge Dubai winner Erik van Rooyen the trophy. L-R: Henrik Stenson, Rafa Cabrera-Bello, Patrick Reed, Vernon Kay, Danny Willett and Shane Lowry

THE Hero Challenge – featuring Major champions and Ryder Cup stars tackling tough short-hole targets in spectacular locations – is to expand over the next three years, the European Tour has announced.

The innovative format tournament, which has been played against stunning backdrops – including the Dubai skyline, the Liverpool docks, London’s Canary Wharf and Edinburgh Castle – has now been held at 10 European Tour events since 2016.

The new three-year deal signed by Hero MotoCorp, the world’s largest manufacturer of motorcycles and scooters, will see the number of Hero Challenges rise from three to five each season.

The exciting and fast-paced shootout will take place 15 times between 2020 and 2022 at different iconic locations around the world.

The series of five annual events will begin in 2020 with the Abi Dhabi HSBC Championship – the first Rolex Series event of the season – before moving to Europe.

A Hero Challenge will precede the Betfred British Masters, to be hosted by Lee Westwood at Close House, near Newcastle, in May, with the city’s famous Tyne Bridge almost certain to feature as the backdrop.

Two more will be held in Europe before the series finale in Dubai, which will feature the winners of all four Hero Challenges, who will compete at the European Tour’s season-ending DP World Tour Championship.

Hero Motorcorp chairman Dr Pawan Munjal made the announcement on Tuesday, during the Hero Challenge ahead of this week’s DP World Tour Championship, in Dubai.

Played at the iconic Atlantis, The Palm in Dubai, the occasion marked the 10th edition of the Hero Challenge over the past three years.

Erik van Rooyen emerged as the winner of the final Hero Challenge of 2019.

The South African defeated Major Champions Shane Lowry, Patrick Reed, Henrik Stenson and Danny Willett, as well as Ryder Cup star Rafa Cabrera Bello.

Dr Munjal said: “Golf has rapidly gained prominence at the world stage, yet there is a constant need to push the envelope and bring innovation to attract younger audiences.

“We introduced the Hero Challenge on the European Tour in 2016 and this distinct format has greatly appealed to a new league of followers over the years.

“The overwhelming success of Hero Challenge has encouraged us to further strengthen our association with the European Tour.

“We have been immensely encouraged by the support and participation of all the icons of the game and will continue to work towards popularising the sport across the world.”

European Tour chief executive Keith Pelley said: “We are thrilled to extend our partnership with Hero MotoCorp for a further three years, and we are delighted they share our passion for innovation.

“Thanks to the vision of Pawan Munjal, the creation of the Hero Challenge has taken golf and our global stars to some iconic locations around the world.

“We are extremely excited to be expanding this concept with additional events over the next three years as we take the Hero Challenge to some spectacular new locations.”

The first Hero Challenge was held in 2016 at The Grove prior to the British Masters.

Earlier this year, the Hero Challenge welcomed its first female star when Solheim Cup and Ladies European Tour winner Charley Hull teed it up at the action-packed event in Liverpool, in front of the iconic Liver Building.

The Hero Challenge is broadcast around the world with a household reach of more than 125 million for each event and is also live streamed on the European Tour’s Facebook and Twitter accounts.

Hero MotoCorp also sponsors the Indian Open, a co-sanctioned event with the Asian Tour, since it became part of the Tour’s schedule in 2015.

Hero has also supported the Women’s Indian Open since 2010, and sponsored India’s domestic women’s professional tour.

•To find out more about van Rooyen’s victory in the Hero Challenge click here.

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Christiaan Bezuidenhout is one of four South Africans who are hoping home support will carry them to victory in the Nedbank Golf Challenge, at Sun City. Picture by GETTY IMAGES

NEDBANK Golf Challenge debutant Christiaan Bezuidenhout is living the dream as he prepares to tee it up in “Africa’s Major” for the first time in his career, in the penultimate Rolex Series event of the 2019 Race to Dubai.

The 25-year-old has had a break-out year on the European Tour in his second full season, with five top 10 finishes and a maiden victory at the Andalucia Valderrama Masters, in June.

In an event with a 39-year history, Bezuidenhout has fond memories of visiting Sun City to watch his heroes and is now looking forward to calling upon the home support when play gets under way today (Thursday).

Bezuidenhout, who overcame the stigma of having been banned for two years after taking a prohibited substance to help him cope with a stutter in 2014, is feeling a lot happier with his golf and life in general.

“It’s a dream come true. I’ve seen this event live since I was nine years old coming here, and here with my family.

“To be here now is a dream come true for me. Every year, this event is a big highlight for all the South Africans golfers and people that like the sport.

“Just to be thought of is a real honour and it should be a special week,” Bezuidenhout added.

“Every year you try to qualify for the final events, and yeah, I had a special year. Best year of my career so far, so for me, being here is a real bonus.

“To qualify for this event and to still be in the top 20 in the Race to Dubai – and to give myself a chance to reach my goals at the end of the year that I’ve set for myself, still in play – I’m looking forward to this week.”

One of nine South Africans in the field, Bezuidenhout is joined at Gary Player Country Club by another first-time winner in the 2019 season – Erik van Rooyen, the Scandinavian Invitation champion.

Van Rooyen is currently eighth on the Race to Dubai rankings after reaching the play-off at last week’s Turkish Airlines Open.

“I’m a little tired, body is a little sore,” said van Rooyen.

“It’s the end of the year, and especially an event like the Nedbank, it’s a fun event. So you kind of forget about it.

“The game is obviously in great shape. Pity about that one tee shot in the play-off last week, but that’s the nature of the game.

“Hats off to Tyrrell (Hatton). He obviously played really well. But my game is right where it needs to be, and it’s in a good place, especially with being home.

“I know this golf course really well. Got a lot of local support. It’s only looking up.

“It’s narrow. You can tell that Gary (Player) built the course, a lot of them slope left-to-right, so a draw would be preferable.

“It has really small greens. Probably some of the smallest greens we play all year. Ball-striking is a premium.

Of the host, van Royen said: “He’s someone I’ve always looked up to. He’s an icon in world golf, as you say, so to have his name attached to this, it’s wonderful.”

The pair are one half of four South Africans who have won European Tour titles this season, with Justin Harding and Louis Oosthuizen also teeing it up on home soil.

After taking last week off, Yorkshire’s Matt Fitzpatrick is feeling rested in his pursuit of becoming this year’s Race to Dubai winner.

Fitzpatrick, who was winning top amateur events like Hampshire’s Selborne Salver as a teenager just seven years ago, doesn’t feel it is a must win week, but admits he needs to win either this week or next if he is to beat the likes of Jon Rahm and Rory McIlroy to the crown.

“I wouldn’t say pressure to win. I would say pressure to contend,” said Fitzpatrick.

“I’m fourth on the Race to Dubai and there’s a chance to win the Race to Dubai still. It’s probably the closest I’ve been so far in my career to winning it.

“You know, two good weeks and you never know what happens. Obviously without winning either of them, the results have got to go heavily my way.

“But win one or both — win both, it will do. But certainly win one of them, it puts me right up there.

“I’ve not played as much this year. That’s one thing when Billy (Foster) came on the bag, that’s one thing he stressed.

“Looking at my schedule in years gone by, I was playing 30, 31, 32 events and this year I think I’m at 28 maybe. It doesn’t sound like a lot, but it is.

It’s an extra week to work on the game. It’s an extra week of rest,” Fitzpatrick added.

“Even just a week is a big thing. I think that’s been a big difference this year just playing a little bit less and it’s made the difference.”

The 2016 Ryder Cup debutant has four runner-up finishes this season and sits fourth on the order of merit, just over 1,000 points behind current leader Bernd Wiesberger.

However, with 1,665 points on offer to the winner, and a first prize of S$2.5million – the highest in European Tour history before next week’s S$3million winner’s cheque at the DP World Tour Championship, Dubai – competition is set to be fierce with just two events of the season remaining.

•For live scoring at the Nedbank Golf Challenge, click here.

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ERIK van Rooyen birdied the last to overcome Matthew Fitzpatrick in a thrilling final day battle and win his first European Tour title at the Scandinavian Invitation.

The South African was last season’s European Challenge Tour Graduate of the Year. Van Rooyen arrived at Hills Golf & Sports Club having finished second three times on the European Tour – twice on the 2019 Race to Dubai.

The 29-year-old entered the final day in Gothenburg with a one-shot lead but was caught by Fitzpatrick and local hero Henrik Stenson. He then led by two at the turn and stretched that lead to three on the back nine.

Fitzpatrick – the 2016 champion – was tenacious in producing a birdie-birdie finish in his 64 and when Van Rooyen bogeyed the 17th, the players were tied at 18-under.

Van Rooyen then made a gutsy closing birdie from 15 feet on the par five last to match Fitzpatrick’s 64 and get to 19-under, securing his maiden win which moved him inside the top 10 on the Race to Dubai Rankings.

Van Rooyen said: “It’s too good, it’s hard to describe. I was so nervous on 18. On 17 I was fine, I just didn’t hit that putt hard enough and then I asked (caddie) Alex, ‘what are we at?’ and he told me that Matt went birdie-birdie.

“I’ve been putting so well and to hole that one to win my first one is pretty cool. I’ve gone close a bunch of times and every time I’m in contention the question gets asked.

The new champion was quick to praise his caddy for his part in the breakthrough victory after runners up finishes at the Trophee Hassan II and the Commercial Bank Qatar Masters in the spring.

Van Rooyen said: “I’ve got to credit Alex, he’s been unbelievable and ever since he’s been on the bag since February. I’m just so proud of myself and Alex and everybody, I’m over the moon.

“Our job today was just hit one shot at a time and commit. I didn’t know where I was at until 16 – I saw I had a three-shot lead, and I knew when I made bogey on 17 it was going to be tight.”

Yorkshire’s Fitzpatrick, who missed out on the last Ryder Cup team after making his debut in 2016, was left bemoaning a lack of luck in his last round.

Fitzpatrick said: “I didn’t put a foot wrong, I didn’t really miss a shot. I hate to say it, but I had no luck out there. I was playing some really good golf, it was nice to be in the mix again.

“I’m really comfortable with where my game is at, another second place so hopefully we’ll have one better later this year.

“I was playing really well and that helps massively. If you’re grinding for pars and struggling to try and stay in it that makes it a bit more difficult, but I just felt really comfortable out there.

“Well played Erik, it’s a great final round to start out with the lead, shoot that, and win by one.”

Stenson thrilled the home fans with a hole-in-one at the sixth in a closing 66 that moved him to 14-under alongside South African Dean Burmester – who carded the same score.

The Swede took advantage of the par-five third and then produced maybe the highlight of the week with his one bounce ace at the sixth sending the crowd wild and moving him into a share of the lead.

Stenson admitted he was not at his best. He said afterwards: “I had a couple of good holes, one in particular, but all in all, I didn’t have my sharpest game.

Describing his ace Stenson added: “Unfortunately, we couldn’t see the bottom of the pin. I hit a very nicely struck seven-iron and it was flying straight at it, so I had my hopes. It was kind of sitting down in a bowl and going straight at it.

“I don’t think all of the crowd could see it either, some seemed more excited than others. It wasn’t until we reached the front of the green that I realised it was in.”

Welshman Jamie Donaldson, American Sihwan Kim, France’s Alexander Levy, Australian Wade Ormsby and home favourite Sebastian Soderberg were in a share of fourth on 13-under.

The post Van Rooyen gets over the line to claim maiden win at Scandinavian Invitation appeared first on Golf North.

Austrian Bern Wiesberger shot a superb 61 – his lowest round on the European Tour – in the second round of the Aberdeen Standard Investments Scottish Open – to share the lead with Lee Slattery and South African Erik Van Rooyen. Picture by GETTY IMAGES

The Austrian, whose previous low round was 63, made 11 birdies – including five in a row to end his round – to sign for a 10-under par 61.

He tops the leaderboard going into the weekend at the third Rolex Series event of the season at 14-under par alongside Englishman Lee Slattery and South Africa’s Erik van Rooyen, who carded matching rounds of 64.

Wiesberger said: “Walking down the last, I was nine-under and had a chance to go to 10.

“I haven’t shot 10 in a professional event yet, so that was a nice bonus. It’s just going with the flow and things worked out very well – not thinking too much and just keep doing what I’m doing.

“I had a couple of chances out there and just took the last five quite nicely. I played quite solid – nothing out of the ordinary.

“I hit a lot of shots quite close and obviously coming in, finishing off with five birdies is a bonus but it was a good day out there. I kept controlling my golf ball and took the chances when I had to take them.”

Wiesberger, who returned from a wrist injury at the end of 2018, won his fifth European Tour title at Made in Denmark in May and was second at last week’s Dubai Duty Free Irish Open.

Slattery who has not won since the 2015 Russian Open, said: “I feel like all the hard work I’ve put in over the winter is starting to pay off now and just trying to finish the season off strong.

“A lot of Rolex Series events to play and I feel I need to push this finish part of the season.

“I didn’t play too much in the early part of the year which is different for me. Spent more time with the family.

“Got a young family and felt like it was important to spend more time with them this winter. Did a lot of gym work at home and I feel like the game is starting to come together a little bit.”

Erik van Rooyen who is looking for his maiden European Tour win after success on the Challenge and Sunshine Tours, said: “It felt easy today, and it felt easy yesterday.

“When you’re playing well, it just comes naturally. And when you don’t — I missed the cut last week, it kind of feels hard. It’s great to go back-to-back seven-under.

“I had a good season last year, and I feel like we’re just building upon that. A couple of good finishes this year, as well, and it’s just fun to play back-to-back good rounds.”

The 2016 Open Champion Henrik Stenson and Nino Bertasio of Italy are two shots behind the leading trio.

Stenson, who has not won since claiming that Claret Jug at Royal Troon, said: “It was the same as yesterday, six birdies and no bogeys, so that’s always pleasing when you play 36 holes without dropping a shot.

“I’m just trying to keep up with the guys at the top of the leaderboard, and so far I’m pleased with the way I’ve played.

“A lot of good tee shots. A lot of good approaches and solid putting on the greens, even though I let one or two good chances slip by here on the back nine, I’m still pleased where I’m positioned after two rounds.”

American Justin Thomas, making his Aberdeen Standard Investments Scottish Open debut this week, shares sixth on 11-under with Italian pair Lorenzo Gagli and two-time winner Guido Migliozzi, going for a hat-trick of victories in 2019. plus Finn Kalle Samooja and Spaniard Adrian Otaegui.

Calum Hill is the leading Scotsman on 10-under alongside 10 others, including Ryder Cup players Matt Fitzpatrick, Edoardo Molinari, Thomas Pieters and Ian Poulter.

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•MORE than one trophy will be up for grabs over the weekend, as the ground-breaking inaugural EDGA Scottish Open takes place at The Renaissance Club.

Ten golfers from the World Rankings for Golfers with Disability will compete in the 36-hole EDGA Scottish Open, teeing off approximately two hours before the first tee in the final two rounds of the Aberdeen Standard Investments Scottish Open.

The post Wiesberger gets 10-out-of-10 for sharing Scottish Open lead with Slattery after a 61 appeared first on Golf North.

Scot Stephen Gallacher claimed his first win in five years at the age of 44 at the Hero Indian Open. Picture by GETTY IMAGES

STEPHEN Gallacher birdied three of his last four holes to produce a stunning comeback and win his first European Tour title in five years at the Hero Indian Open.

The Scot had shared the first round lead but a second round 74 saw him slip back and his chances looked doomed when he made a quadruple bogey eight on the seventh hole on Sunday.

The lead kept moving backwards on a windy day at DLF Golf and Country Club, but as he stood on the 15th tee, Gallacher still looked an outside bet facing one of the toughest closing stretches on the Race to Dubai because of that snowman on the seventh.

The 2014 Ryder Cup star knows a thing or two about performing under pressure, however.

And he took advantage of the par five before hitting stunning approaches into the 17th and last to claim his first win since the second of back to back Omega Dubai Desert Classic titles in 2014.

On Mother’s Day back in his native Scotland, it was a father and son show in New Delhi, with son Jack caddying for Gallacher this season in what is likely to be a permanent move for the duo.

A closing 71 moved the 44-year-old to nine-under and gave him a one-shot win over Japan’s Masahiro Kawamura, with Spaniard Jorge Campillo a further shot back.

A delighted Gallacher said: “Today the wind was swirling and the course was playing really tough.

“I was three behind the lead at the start of the day and got off to quite a solid start and then I hit a quadruple-bogey on hole seven. I was pretty calm at that point of time, I stood on the eighth tee and saw I was only five shots behind.

“I told myself to stick to the game and you never know what can happen. Especially with how hard it was playing and I came back three-under in the last four holes.

“I thought, ‘just hang in there’. When I birdied 15 I saw that Julian Suri had come back and then when I got to the 16th green I was tied for the lead. I just tried to finish as strong as I could, and I did that.

“Thankfully it was enough. I am 45 this year so I am really proud of what I did out here today. It changes my schedule and I can play a bit less and it was great to win with my son Jack on the bag.

“He has caddied for me 20 events already. It has been a great day. It was great to have him on the bag and Mother’s Day as well makes it even more special.”

Masahiro Kawamura, who has one win to his name on the Asian Tour back in 2013, admitted feeling nervous coming down the stretch. He said: “The round was very good especially in such tough conditions.

“I wasn’t playing very well in the front nine and was struggling on a lot of the holes and I had some missed shots, but the back nine I played very well.

“The course was tough today, but I managed to come back.

“Coming into the last two holes and seeing my name on the leaderboad, I was really nervous,” said the Asian Tour winner, who claimed the 11^th card at the European Tour School, in November, at Spain’s Lumine GC.

Kawamura added: “I knew how important the final hole was and I hit a good shot but was just unlucky.

“Last year I finished second three times on the Japan Tour, lost by one shot twice and once in a play-off. Now I finished second by one shot this time again.”

American Julian Suri had led by three after 12 holes but produced a quadruple bogey of his own on the treacherous 14th to slip back, and he finished alongside South African Christiaan Bezuidenhout at six-under.

Bezuidenhout made six birdies and two bogeys in a 68 that handed him a third top 10 in four events and he finished three shots off the lead, one ahead of fellow South Africans George Coetzee and Erik van Rooyen, Spaniard Nacho Elvira and Hertfordshire’s Callum Shinkwin.

Finn Kalle Samooja made the third hole-in-one of the week with a pitching wedge from 139 yards on the 12th for the eighth ace of the season.

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