Tyrrell Hatton watched the BMW PGA Championship at Wentworth as a child – he dreamed of being good enough to end up inside the ropes and one day winning it. Now he has. Pictures by GETTY IMAGES

FORMER Wee Wonder Tyrell Hatton realised a childhood dream by claiming his third Rolex Series title at the BMW PGA Championship.

Hatton, who first started watching the BMW PGA at Wentworth as a five-year-old, held off the formidable challenge of Frenchman Victor Perez to earn a dream victory at his home event.

Back in 1996, Tyrrell was already playing in Wee Wonder qualifiers and at Wycombe Heights Golf Centre.

Five years later he was competing in the Grand Finals at St Andrews, with his former caddy Jonathan Bell, from Kent, who is now on Tom Lewis’ bag.

A young Tyrrell Hatton stood at the ropes by the 18th green at Wentworth when he was a kid Picture: EUROPEAN TOUR / Twitter

He loved going to Wentworth to watch the European Tour’s flagship event at Wentworth every May – seeing Colin Montgomerie win the Volvo PGA three years in a row.

Hatton would dream as a child of just being good enough to end up inside the ropes during his annual visit to the famous Surrey club with his dad Jeff.

Now he stands proudly as the King of Wentworth and holder of one of the world’s premier golf titles – just three days shy of his 29th birthday on Wednesday.

Hatton etched his name alongside some of the greats of the game courtesy of a five-under par final round of 67.

That was good enough for a four-stroke victory in the third Rolex Series event of the 2020 Race to Dubai, despite a near disaster at the last.

Hatton said: “It’s very special to be standing here holding this.

“It’s been a dream of mine since I was a kid to play the tournament – and hopefully win it one day. And thankfully, this year is my year.”

Hatton joins 2019 Race to Dubai winner Jon Rahm as a three-time winner of the Rolex Series, which begain in 2017.

Hatton celebrates victory on the 18th green having hit the worst shot into 18 by a champion elect – said Tyrrell, who was winning Wee Wonder events when he first went to Wentworth

More nervous than Ryder Cup debut

HATTON admitted the biggest win of his career had not been all plain sailing.

Tyrrell said: “The last few holes, I didn’t know exactly where I stood. I was really nervous playing the last few.

“Although I didn’t know that I had a three-shot lead playing the last hole, I was pretty nervous.

“The second shot that we’ve hit into the last is probably the worst shot in the history of the tournament for the champion.

“But once I fatted my second shot, and we got very lucky that it didn’t go in the water, I found out I had a three-shot lead.

“So that settled me down a little bit. It was nice to get up-and-down after a terrible golf shot.

“So it is what it is. I’m kind of glad I followed it up with a nice up-and-down.

“My short game has been really good all week, and just a nice way to sign off.”

In more benign conditions on the famous West Course – where past champions have also included Seve Ballesteros, Sir Nick Faldo, Luke Donald, Paul Casey – and defending champion Danny Willett – the chasing pack staked a claim for the title early on.

But Hatton – who admitted that he had been more nervous ahead of the final round than he had been on his Ryder Cup debut two years ago – was composure personified as he pulled away from the pack thanks to three successive birdies around the turn.

The former B.B.&O. amateur, from Harleyford GC, never looked back. A birdie at the final hole saw the former Wee Wonder card a 19-under total.

That sealed a fifth European Tour title – and a third win worldwide in his last 13 starts and elevated the Arnold Palmer Invitational winner to eighth in the Race to Dubai rankings.

Perez misses a putt on the 17th on his way to his third runner’s-up finish in the Rolex Series

Perez’s fast start fails to overhaul Hatton

PEREZ – who has now finished runner-up in three of his 11 Rolex Series appearances – put up an almighty battle having started the day three shots behind Hatton.

Last year’s Alfred Dunhill Links Championship winner reached the turn in four-under after an eagle at the par-five fourth hole.

But the Scots-based Frenchman’s challenge faded down the stretch, and he signed for a 68 and a 15-under total.

Perez, who moved to Dundee to be near his student girlfriend, said “Obviously I knew I had to get off to a quick start.

“I was kind of like thinking, you’re three shots back starting the day. If you can pick up those three shots as early as possible – and obviously birdieing two, eagling four, got me right there – and whatever Tyrrell was doing, I was quite pleased with – regardless of whatever he was doing.

“If he was three-under through four, as well, then so be it.

“But I knew I was at least giving it a run, and then made a couple good putts to end the front nine – a good save on 10, birdieing 11 and 12, getting up-and-down and I was obviously flying.

“You kind of take for granted the level of play you put on on the front nine. You’re six-under through 12 and you seem like you can do it all the way to the end.

“But it’s still very difficult you have to hit shots. I knew starting today – a little different wind – the back-side was going to being playing harder with the wind coming in off the left towards the end – and it was challenging.

“I just didn’t execute coming down the stretch, which is part of the game. It’s a ball-striker’s course. Didn’t really go my way towards the end, but obviously very pleased.

Patrick Reed tees off in the fourth round of the BMW PGA Championship, at Wentworth

AMERICA’S Masters champion Patrick Reed extended his lead at the top of the Race to Dubai rankings.

The Green Jacket winner in 2018 shared third place on 14-under, alongside Andy Sullivan, from Nuneaton.

The English Championship winner at Hertfordshire’s Hanbury Manor, back in August, a recorded his best finish at Wentworth.

•For final results click here.

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The pair, who have fond memories of living together at the University of New Mexico, will go head-to-head in the final group in Saturday’s third round, with pacesetter Perez one shot clear of his old college friend.

“I am very pleased the with the second round. I think it was important to keep the hammer down after obviously a 65 in the wind yesterday.

“I think they were definitely the tougher conditions, and it’s one of those days where you hope to stay a couple under.

Perez, who is based in Dundee where his girlfriend is studying, has proved very adept at links golf after his spell living in Scotland.

“I was able to play really well yesterday, and obviously coming out this morning,” said 27-year-old Perez.

“This is the round where you have to try to take as much advantage as you can and put some points on the board.

“Obviously I’m in a very good position for tomorrow,” said the rising star of French golf and the European Tour.

And recalling his time on the New Mexico team, Perez said: “We were roommates in college for four years and we are obviously very close.

“He played very well yesterday and I’m looking forward to playing together. Being on Tour together makes it really easy to catch up.

“He’s a great talent and he has been coming up and a long time so it’s only a matter of time before he breaks through.”

Perez – who claimed the Alfred Dunhill Links Championship at St Andrews back in September, posted his second consecutive round of 65 to move to 10-under par,

Meanwhile Malaysia’s Green carded a round of 67 for a nine-under total at the Royal Greens Golf and Country Club.

Green was looking forward to playing with his old college team-mate.

“Playing with Victor tomorrow, I think it will be fun,” said Green. “It’s just like college days again. We’ve been friends since college and it will be great fun.

“I’m sure we will talk about some stuff. It’s been a couple years. I think played with him probably last year, so it’s been a while. I know he’s been playing really good. Just have fun with him tomorrow.

“I’m excited just to be in the mix. I’ve been there a couple times and just try to put myself in the position a couple more times and see what happens.”

McDowell rolling back the years

FORMER US Open Champion Graeme McDowell, who shared the first round lead with Green, is a shot further back on eight-under.

The 40-year-old, who claimed his sole Major at Pebble Beach 10 years ago, added a round of 68 having been joint leader with Green on six-under, on Thursday.

McDowell said: “It’s always hard to come out right after a good round like I shot yesterday and try and keep the pedal down.

“I felt like I played pretty loose today. It was obviously better conditions this morning.

“I three-putted the 11th – my second hole of the morning – which sort of derailed me a little bit.

“I continued to hit fairways which is key on this golf course. I hit some really quality iron shots.

“I think the back nine in particular is quite difficult on this course,” added McDowell, whose last win on the European Tour came in his successful defence of his French Open title, at Le Paris National, in 2014.

McDowell was not thinking about winning after making a slow start to round two, but is pushing to be in the mix come Sunday.

“It was tough to get going,” GMac added. “A couple of birdies on the front were very pleasing and it was nice to hang in there coming in.

“All in all, very happy the way I hit the ball today and looking forward to being in position going into this weekend.

Defending champion Dustin Johnson signed for a round of 68 and is five shots back in a share of eighth place on five-under.

•For live scoring and to follow the head-to-head between Victor Perez and Gavin Green in the Saudi International, click here.

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Tyrrell Hatton survived a six-man play-off to land the £1.56million prize for winning the Turkish Airlines Open – his second Rolex Series win. Picture by GETTY IMAGES

BUCKINGHAMSHIRE’S Tyrrell Hatton survived a six-man play-off under floodlights at the Turkish Airlines Open to win the $2million Rolex Series winner’s cheque.

The 28-year-old jumped to the top of the qualifying list to play in next year’s Ryder Cup.

The former B.B.&O. amateur had to chip-in to keep his hopes alive on the first trip back up the last before finally holding his nerve on the 18th green as Austrian Schwab missed a short putt to extend the play-off to the 23rd hole.

A beaming Hatton, who had veteran looper Mick Donaghy on the bag, said: “It’s so surreal. I mean, I actually can’t believe that I’ve won.

Talking about the shot on the 19th after his approach had come back down the slope, leaving him facing elimination, Hatton revealed: “Mick said, ‘Yeah, chip it in.’

“I was kind of getting in my own way with moaning about the little bit of mud on the ball – from the fairway – and obviously it was just left in a dead spot.

“I just went back to when I was a kid at Harleyford – just chipping away, and you’d hole three in a row. That really focused me, and it came out perfect.

“Amazing that it went in and just so thankful that I’ve gone on to win the title.

“It’s been quite a difficult year in terms of things happening off-course, and you know, the last month, I feel like I really found my game again.

“I said to a few people on my team that if I was lucky enough to win again, then I would definitely savour the moment, because I think it’s quite easy to take it for granted.

“You know, sport’s great when it’s going well. But when it’s not going well, it kind of hits home, so I’m absolutely thrilled,” added Hatton, who is coached by his dad Jeff.

Hatton had long-time friend Jonathan Bell, Kent’s former England international on the bag when he won the 2017 Italian Open – his first Rolex Series victory – the week after the pair successfully defended Hatton’s Dunhill title at St Andrews.

Despite playing in the record Ryder Cup victory against America at Le Paris National just over a year ago, Hatton split with Bell last year before employing Mark “Punk” Crane at the 2018 US Open, at Shinnecock Hills.

Hatton, who has been heavily criticised by TV commentators and on social media, for his frequent temper tantrums out on the course, teamed up with Donaghy earlier this year.

Hatton, who has been nursing a wrist injury which will require surgery at the end of this season, said: “Obviously amazing to have Mick on the bag and he’s done a great job this week. I’m just so happy.

“You don’t think about the money, at all. It’s all pride. And yeah, obviously it’s a bonus at the end of it after a great week, and I’m just so happy, I don’t know what else to say.”

Hatton entered the final round in glorious sunshine three shots off the lead at The Montgomerie Maxx Royal.

But the Harleyford GC member ended it as the last-man standing under the artificial lights after one of the most dramatic days on the 2019 Race to Dubai.

A birdie on the 72nd hole sealed a closing 67 and a place in the record-equalling play-off alongside French duo Benjamin Hebert and Victor Perez, American Kurt Kitayama, Austrian Matthias Schwab and South African Erik van Rooyen.

Hatton had to chip-in to keep his hopes alive on the first trip back up the last as Hebert, Perez and van Rooyen were eliminated on the first extra hole.

Kitayama stayed in the hunt before he was eliminated on the third extra hole, leaving Hatton and Schwab to fight it out under the floodlights for the £1.56million first prize.

Hatton found trouble with his drive and was forced to lay-up, but par was enough for him to secure his fourth European Tour title.P

Schwab, who has been a model of consisteny in his search for a maiden win, with six top fives and four top 10s, had missed a putt to win in regulation.

“It was a close call,” said Schwab. “I had some good looks and good chances coming down the stretch in regular play and didn’t take advantage of them.

“In a play-off, it is what it is,” added the Austrian, who made an excellent putt from the edge of the green as Kitayama – going for his third win of the season – was eliminated.

“It’s still a second-place finish, which is obviously not too bad, but yeah, at the moment, it’s not too great,” said Schwab.

Kitayama’s disappointment was probably tempered by those two wins in the early part of the season after shooting a joint best-of-the-day 64 to move nine places up the leaderboard to gatecrash the play-off.

“It was pretty fun,” said Kitayama. “A little disappointed, but gave myself a couple chances. It’s too bad.

“To put myself right back in it today and to get myself a win would have been amazing,” added Kitayama.

“I’m pleased how today went. The ending was tough but overall, great learning experience.”

•For the final resutls in the Turkish Airlines Open, click here.

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Li Haotong overcame an indifferent spell on the European Tour to become the first Chinese player to lead a WGC in the HSBC Champions. Picture by GETTY IMAGES

LI Haotong carded a brilliant 64 to thrill the home crowds and open up a one-shot lead after the first round of the WGC-HSBC Champions.

The World No. 59 announced himself to the world with a top 10 at Sheshan International Golf Club in 2015, and since then has gone on to claim two European Tour wins.

Li made seven birdies and an eagle as he got to eight-under in the first round in Shanghai, becoming the first Chinese player to lead a World Golf Championships event after the opening round.

Li said: “Today is a pretty good start and good beginning. Obviously it would be a great joy for Chinese golfers, and Chinese golf fans, to have a Chinese player winning a WGC-HSBC Champions here in China.

“But for the next three days, anything could happen. So I don’t want to think too much about it.

“I just want to focus and concentrate on the upcoming three days because anything can happen. I just wanted to do a good job to keep this momentum going for the next three days.

“I don’t feel quite well with my status and my momentum because in the previous tournament, I wasn’t really playing that well.

“But I never expected today, that I had such a great round in day one,” added Li, who won the 2016 Volvo China Open, in Beijing.

Li entered the week 23rd on the Race to Dubai rankings but a first WGC victory would put him right into the mix to be crowned Europe’s No. 1 heading into the final three Rolex Series events of the season

Frenchman Victor Perez was making his WGC debut after claiming a maiden European Tour victory at the Alfred Dunhill Links Championship last month.

And he carded two eagles en route to a 65 which left him in second place.

Perez has been living for a couple of years in Dundee with his student girlfriend, which explained his love for links golf after the rookie’s St Andrews win last month.

But he also has form in China on the European Challenge Tour winning last year’s Foshan Open.

Perez said: “It was a great day for me. Very pleased with how I played. I think I did a lot of things well and I’m obviously in a great position.

“Obviously the end of the year has been going quite well since the win at Dunhill, added the 27-year-old, who represented France in the Eisenhower Trophy at the 2014 World Amateur Team Championship, in Japan.

“A couple of good weeks in Italy and France. It can always be better, but after win, you could go either way.

“You could really ride it or have a little bit of a downfall from it. I did well, coming in here with a lot of confidence and the course suits me fairly well.

“It’s long. The greens are going to be firm this week and obviously having JP helped a lot, as well.”

His caddy JP Fitzgerald knows the Shenzen course well from his days on Rory McIlroy’s bag.

Sheffield’s Matthew Fitzpatrick, defending champion Xander Schauffele, Australian Adam Scott and South Korea’s Sungjae Im were at six-under, a shot clear of World No. 2 McIlroy, Austrian Matthias Schwab and Canadian Corey Conners

McIlroy came home in 31 to fly up the leaderboard, with Schwab birdieing four of his last five in a late move of his own.

McIlroy, who has finished in the top six five times in seven visits, has a chance to close the gap on World No. 1 with Brooks Koepka absent this week.

“I think it’s momentum,” said McIlroy. “Sometimes you feel it a little more than other times and definitely got some momentum on that back nine today, and tried to sort of ride that momentum to the very end.

“It would have been nice to pick up one more – had a good chance for birdie – but after the start, to shoot five under, I’m not complaining.

“Looking at the leaderboard and looking at the scores that have been shot, it definitely was scorable,” said McIlroy, who won two WGC titles from 2014-15, but has not won another since, or a Major in the past five years.

“There was no wind, so it was a day to take advantage of the conditions. It looks like the conditions are going to stay that way for the next few days.

“But it’s nice, the last few tournaments I’ve played, I’ve had a bad opening round and then been trying to play catch up” said the 30-year-old from Northern Ireland.

“At least now, I’m right in the thick of things from the start, which is a better place to be.”

South Africa’s Louis Oosthuizen made the 28th hole-in-one of the season on the sixth as he got to four-under alongside Mexican Abraham Ancer, Yorkshire’s Danny Willett and Zhang Xinjun, the other Chinese player in the top 10.

•For live scoring in the WGC-HSBC Champions click here.

Li Haotong walks down the 18th hole with Phil Mickelson at Sheshan International Golf Club. Picture by GETTY IMAGES

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South African George Coetzee tied for the lead in the Frenh Open with Ryan Fox after they both shot a six-under par 65. Picture by GETTY IMAGES

GEORGE Coetzee and Ryan Fox opened up a one-shot lead at the top of a congested leaderboard after the first round of the Amundi Open de France.

South African Coetzee fired his lowest opening round of the season to set the target at six-under par with his round of 65.

The four-time Euorpean Tour winner said: “It was almost perfect. Played really well. Just dropped one on 17, but I can’t complain.

“It’s nice to be in the mix again. It’s been kind of a hard, long year, but it feels like the game is coming along nicely,” added Coetzee, whose last win came in Tshwane Open, in March last year.

“ I think you find which holes you can attack when you get to the green. There’s no real aggressive game plan on this golf course.

“Just keep the ball in play and give yourself opportunities, and there’s obviously a couple of holes where you’ve got to be careful,” added Coetzee, who has won the Sunshine Tour Order of Merit three times in the last four years.

Fox matched Coetzee in the afternoon as the New Zealander also carded seven birdies and a single bogey to join him at the summit.

“I’m pretty happy,” said Fox. “This is a golf course that can kick you pretty quickly. I played really solid today. Holed some putts.

“I played those tough holes, that closing stretch, really well. I could have potentially grabbed a couple more on those last four, which is always a bonus – but very happy to walk away with a 65 around here.

“You’ve got to drive it really well. For the most part I did a really good job of keeping it in play,” said Fox, whose sole Euorpean Tour win came in the ISPS Handa World Super 6 in Perth, in Feburary.

“A couple holes I hit poor tee shots and I managed to scramble and make pars from there, which is nice,” Fox added. “But yeah, you just keep yourself out of trouble.”

Benjamin Hebert – currently the leading French player on the Race to Dubai – delighted the home fans at Le Golf National with a birdie on the last to sit one shot off the lead alongside American Kurt Kitayama and Scotland’s Richie Ramsay.

Benjamin Hebert said: “I putted very well today. I’ve worked on my putting since the start of the week.

“I had a private lesson with David Orr, who is a big putting expert. We changed some stuff and it works very well. So, I’m pretty happy.

“I feel good support from the French public. We have only one tournament a year, so it’s very important for us to represent this week.”

Ramsay has been fighting issues over spending time away from his young daugher over the past couple of seasons – the 35-year-old Scot only secured his card in the last event of 2018, and has spoken about possibly retiring at 40, or at least taking a whole year out of the game.

“It’s obviously a fantastic golf course. A little bit different this year. A bit colder, a bit softer, so the course is playing quite long,” said Ramsay whose best result of the season is tied for sixth in the BMW PGA Championship at Wentworth.

“It’s a joy to play a golf course like this, because it just tests the whole part of your game and mentally, obviously there’s a lot of water out there, so you have to be very committed to your shots,” Ramsay added.

Victor Perez became the latest player from France to win on the European Tour when he took the Alfred Dunhill Links Championship title last month.

And the Dundee-based Frenchman is just two shots off the lead at four under, alongside South African trio Darren Fichardt, Jaco Van Zyl and Justin Walters, plus Belgium’s Nicolas Colsaerts, Denmark’s Nicolai Hogaard and Kalle Samooja, from Finland.

•For live scoring in the French Open click here.

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Alex Noren has fond memories of Le Golf National after holing a monster putt to get in the play-off last year – and then hole a monster putt in the Ryder Cup singles three months later. Picture by GETTY IMAGES

ALEX Noren returns to a venue full of incredible memories as he aims to defend his Amundi Open de France title this week.

The Swede claimed a one-shot win at Paris’ Le Golf National in July last year.

And more glory was to follow three months later as he made a memorable Ryder Cup debut, which included one of the greatest moments of his career.

With team victory assured and the celebrations going on around him, Noren holed a monster putt for a birdie on the last to beat Bryson DeChambeau one-up to put the gloss on a 17½-10½ triumph for Europe.

Noren said: “It was an amazing week last year. I just made the cut and then had a great weekend.

“I didn’t think I was even going to get into a play-off with the score I had, I thought I had to make the putt on the last, that long putt.

“I just missed it, but then it was pretty tough coming in for the rest of the guys and I ended up winning. I felt very fortunate.

“The putt on 18 at the Ryder Cup was amazing, maybe the best moment of my golfing career.

“I know the whole match was over, but my game was still going and the coaches and captains had told us to keep going until the end of every match.

“It just felt great to finish my game like that and it ended up being the finish of the whole match.”

The 10-time European Tour winner is joined in the field this week by double Major champion Martin Kaymer.

The former World No. 1 has played in every edition of this event since turning professional, and counts the 2009 Open de France among his 11 European Tour titles.

“I think it’s one of the best golf courses that we play on the European Tour,” said the 2010 USPGA and 2015 US Open Champion.

“We used to play on a different date for the last 12 years or so that I have been here, so this week it will be a little different.

“My win in 2009 was a very enjoyable week in many ways. I was very in control of my game.

The German, who broke through with his first European Challenge Tour win back in 2006, said: “I had so much support during that week and I was playing really well.

“The week after I also won in Loch Lomond at the Scottish Open, so it was a really nice time for me.

“It was always one of those tournaments that you would like to win in your career, and fortunately I could win it fairly early in my career.”

Noren and Kaymer will face a strong local challenge around the famously testing Albatros Course this week, with the three in-form Frenchmen inside the top 25 of the Race to Dubai Rankings.

They are Benjamin Hebert, Victor Perez – the recent winner of the Alfred Dunhill Links – and former Amateur Champion Romain Langasque – all seeking to add gloss to impressive seasons with victory on home soil.

•To follow live scoring at Le Paris National click here

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Benjamin Hebert is the highest Frenchman in the field for the French Open at Le Paris National this week. Picture by GETTY IMAGES

BENJAMIN Hebert is currently the top ranked French player on the Race to Dubai, and he is hoping a maiden European Tour win on home soil at this week’s Amundi French Open can help him break into the top 10 – or better.

The 32-year-old has two second place finishes this season, at the Volvo China Open and the Aberdeen Standard Investments Scottish Open.

Hebert said: “It’s my best season so far. I have two second places, but I think I could have been a little bit better.

“Still chasing the first win, but I’ll try to improve every part of my game and I think it could be soon.

“I’m in a good position on the Race to Dubai. Like with my game, I will try to improve this placing and maybe get into the top ten or better.

“This is a very important end of the season coming up, and it’s going to be good,” Hebert added.

“It’s always special to play on home soil, with so many home fans watching. It’s always interesting to learn how to manage this different pressure.

“We’re playing on a great golf course and I just try to enjoy it,” added Hebert, who currently sits in 17^th place on the Race to Dubai rankings as the season enters the final stretch.

He is joined at Le Golf National for continental Europe’s oldest national open by a host of his compatriots, including one man who has already tasted victory this season – Alfred Dunhill Links Championship winner Victor Perez.

The European Challenge Tour graduate will be under a different kind of pressure this week after making his debut in the event last season.

But Perez, who currently lives in Dundee where his girlfriend is studying at the Scottish university, is hoping to keep relaxed and treat the week like any other tournament.

Perez said: “Being a Frenchman it’s important to be here and play in front of the home fans. A lot of French players are having a good season and really looking forward to the tournament.

“Winning a couple of weeks ago means there is a little bit of attention on me, so I think it’s important to come out and play in front of home fans and hopefully have a good week.

“You want to try to enjoy it as much as possible. It’s very easy to put extra pressure on yourself to perform.

“But also you can think about it the other way and really enjoy the fact the fans are here to cheer for you,” Perez added.

“Then it’s just about having a blast and free-wheeling it, I think that’s a better attitude than feeling the extra pressure.”

Romain Langasque – the winner of the 2016 Amateur Championship at Carnoustie – is also aiming to cap off a fine season with victory in front of home crowds at the Amundi Open de France, which is often described as an inland links, with its long grasses and tightly mown, narrow fairways.

Langasque has been edging towards his first European Tour win with three top three finishes.

The 2016 Spanish Amateur Champion, who beat Hampshire’s Scott Gregory in the final, is relishing the challenge posed by the famously testing Albatros Course, which hosted Europe’s victory over the United States in the 2018 Ryder Cup.

Langasque said: “It’s always important to play in front of the French crowd.

“I know this course very well and I think it’s one of the best on the European Tour.

“My first time playing my home open was tough, but now I’m better prepared, and I enjoy it so much, sharing these moments with my family and friends.

“With the weather as well this week I think it will be a tough test again. The 18th is a tough tee shot under pressure because of the bank on the right and the water on the left.

“The second shot is quite tough because of the pressure, you see a lot of water,” added Langasque.

“It’s one of the best finishing holes on Tour and I hope to have my chance down there on Sunday.”

Two Frenchmen have claimed the Open de France at the Ryder Cup venue – Thomas Levet in 2011, and Jean-Francois Remesy, who won back-to-back 14 years ago. Both are now playing on the Staysure Seniors Tour.

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Frenchman Victor Perez, who lives in nearby Dundee, became the first rookie to win the Alfred Dunhill Links, beating Essex’s Matthew Southgate, at St Andrews. Picture by GETTY IMAGES.

VICTOR Perez claimed his maiden European Tour title as he became the first rookie to win the Alfred Dunhill Links Championship at St Andrews Old Course.

Bt the Frenchman was really feeling at home – his breakthrough victory came just 15 miles from the place he currently calls home… Dundee.

And Perez was greeted by the famous 18th green next to the R&A clubhouse where so many of the game’s greats have been crowned Open Champion, by his girlfriend Abigail, who is a dentistry student in the Scottish town, just along the Fife coast.

Perez was delighted to cut his teeth with a maiden victory, saying: “It’s really hard to describe right now. I feel like the emotions were really high all day, and really cold, windy, long day out there.

“I felt like I was able to battle. Matt played amazing. I was expecting some of the guys to charge.

“We were fortunate in a it was a one-on-one battle on the back nine. I was able to make that birdie on 14 that really pulled me back – and then just held strong till the end. I was fortunate it was my time.

“After the birdie on 14, getting tied for the lead, playing 15, I just tried to still give myself chances. You always expect these guys at this level to make birdies and you have to stay aggressive.

“I think when Matt hit his drive down 16, well, I thought: ‘There you have it. This is what these guys do. They come in there and give themselves chances.’

“I hit a great drive to 17 that really settled me and a great iron shot that I thought hit it close. Going down the last with a one-shot lead is all you can ask for.

“The format is awesome. I think it’s a chance for the amateurs to see from inside the ropes and connect with the players, which is something that they strive for, and they love to do and chat with us, and ask what clubs we hit – and why, and all those kind of questions.

“ I think it’s really cool that we can give back to those people, as well,” Perez added.

“Obviously there’s nothing like a win. The confidence you get from getting it done – it’s so difficult at this level to win,” said the two-time Challenge Tour winner.

“Being my first year, I’m obviously delighted.”

But there was clue to Perez’s victory – going in to the Dunhill he sat seventh in strokeaverage on links courses since January 2017, at 69.25.

He was behind just Jordan Spieth (69.25), Eddie Pepperell (69.21), Tommy Fleetwood (69.16), Justin Rose (69.16), Robert MacIntyre (69.07) and Jon Rahm (68.86).

It was a tense battle throughout as the 27-year-old locked horns with his playing partner Matthew Southgate, having both shared a two-stroke lead heading into the final day.

Perez was one stroke behind the Essex golfer – who was playing with former R&A secretary Peter Dawson – heading into the back nine, despite a flawless front nine completed in two-under.

A dropped shot at the par three 11^th meant he dropped further off the pace.

But a birdie at the par five 14^th for the 2018 European Challenge Tour graduate, and a bogey for Southgate, meant a two-shot swing had them level going down the stretch.

Southgate’s missed par putt at the 17^th was decisive as Perez edged ahead and two pars at the famous final hole at the Home of Golf earned Perez a career-changing victory as he moved to 17^th in the Race to Dubai rankings.

Southgate had been left feeling frustrated after missing the cut at Wentworth a week earlier.

But a return to Carnoustie where he and his father have been country members and the Home of Golf – where he claimed the biggest victory of his amateur career in the St Andrews Links Trophy, in 2010, clearly rejuvenated him.

Southgate, who saves his best performances for links golf – he was sixth in the 2017 Open at Royal Birkdale – could console himself with an important outright second place finish.

Southend’s Southgate, who is attached to Thorpe Hall – the club where amateur legend Sir Michael Bonallack, the R&A secretary before Peter Dawson, is also a member – said: “I’ve done everything I can do.

“I was impressed with how level-headed I stayed and felt amazingly calm really all day, which is quite a surprise to be honest.

“I thought I might be a little more excited and kept a great rhythm with my swing. Didn’t miss a shot all day and if anything, hit a couple too good that went past the flag.

“It’s been a horrible season for me and this has sorted that right out and gotten us right back to the Race to Dubai and that’s the goal for me, really.

“I think I’ve proven to the world this week that when I do switch it on, I can mix it with the best and I’ve beaten a hell of a lot of good players this week.

“I’ve played some great golf, and you can’t help but be pleased. Victor, what a gentleman. I’ve never played with him before, and couldn’t be happier for him.

“You know, one of us was on the first tee and I was thinking, I hope one of us gets our first win, and golf’s bigger than individual.

“It’s a big gentleman’s game, and it was an absolute pleasure to shake his hand on the last green there. He played fantastic all day, and I’m chuffed to bits coming second to such a great bloke.”

That runners-up spot secured Southgate’s European Tour card for 2020 after a disappointing season up to that point.

Tommy Fleetwood, meanwhile, won the team prize in the pro-am event alongside partner Ogden Phipps II, pipping Rory McIlroy and his father Gerry to the title, denying the four-time Major winner a perfect 60th birthday present for his dad.

Fleetwood, who denied the McIlroys the team prize by virtue of his better pro’s score, said: “I played all right today. I think putting was a massive difference.

“Yesterday I struggled and it was a bit of a flat day. For the most part today, I was thinking about the team competition.

“I think it took my mind off everything else and just got on a really nice run,” said Fleetwood.

“We’ve played in it a lot and I know how much it means to those guys. I was nervous.

“I said to Ogden, we had five holes left, and he said, ‘I’m going to need you on these last few.’

“He was nervous coming down the stretch but we did great. To win it. It means a lot when it’s not just yourself and it’s a partnership.”

For final scores at the Alfred Dunhill Links, click here.

Frenchman Victor Perez, who lives in nearby Dundee, became the first rookie to win the Alfred Dunhill Links, beating Essex’s Matthew Southgate, at St Andrews. Picture by GETTY IMAGES.

The post How Perez cut his teeth at golf’s top table with victory in Alfred Dunhill Links appeared first on Golf North.

Victor Perez, the Frenchman who lives in Dundee, shot an eight-under 64 at Kingsbarns, in the third round of the Alfred Dunhill Links Championship. Picture by GETTY IMAGES

DUNDEE-based Frenchman Victor Perez and Essex’s Matthew Southgate will enter the final round of the Alfred Dunhill Links Championship in a share of the lead, with both players chasing a maiden European Tour title.

The famous St Andrews Old Course will play host on the final day and with the wind set to kick up, it will be all to play for among the chasing pack which features Cheshire’s Paul Waring, American Ryder Cup player Tony Finau and former World No, 1 Luke Donald.

But Perez and Southgate are in pole position at the Home of Golf, as they sit atop the leaderboard with a two-stroke advantage on 20-under par.

And Southgate will be looking to write a piece of St Andrews history by becoming the first player to win the St Andrews Links Trophy – one of the top amateur trophies – and the Alfred Dunhill Links, one of the most prestigrious on the European Tour.

Perez, who lives with his partner in nearby Dundee will be vying for a first European Tour victory in his rookie season, having graduated from the European Challenge Tour last year.

The 27-year-old carded an eight-under 64 at Kingsbarns Golf Links which included a run of five successive birdies.

Perez said: “It was awesome. Bit windier today. Out of all the courses, we got a bit fortunate to play here today, being a bit wider off the tee. Maybe Carnoustie would have been the tougher course today.

“I played great and hit the ball really well. Felt like I made a couple of putts. I didn’t make any bombs out there or anything.

“Missed a short one on eight but the rest of the ball-striking was class today and I was really pleased with nine birdies again, obviously.”

Southgate, meanwhile, is making his 140^th appearance on Tour and the closest he has come was a share of second place at the 2017 Dubai Duty Free Irish Open.

The 30-year-old signed for a seven-under 65 at the Old Course after finishing with a birdie at the ninth, his 18^th.

Matthew Southgate, who won the 2010 St Andrews Links – played over three rounds on the Old Course, and one at either the neighbouring New or Jubilee Courses, said: “I didn’t miss many shots and got the speed of the greens really good.

“I set up so many chances. I was always bound to make a good fistful of them. Not much you can say really. Just really solid all day.

“My swing feels very solid. I feel very happy in my own head at the minute and playing with such a clear mind and just easy swing thoughts.

“The biggest job tomorrow is going to be keeping me in check rather than the golf swing. I’m hitting the ball fantastic the first three days, so there’s no reason why I can’t shoot another good score.

“Someone is going to post a good number, so it’s going to take a good score to get the win.

“I’m so passionate about winning tournaments and being here at the Home of Golf, tomorrow is going to be a difficult one to just keep myself in check and keep producing what I have done the first three days.”

Waring, who grew up playing links golf at the Wirral, and won the 2005 English Amateur Championship at his home club Bromborough, said: “Anything under par around Carnoustie you always take – especially with quite a stiff breeze out there.

“Pleased to shoot as low as I did and get myself involved with the tournament.

“I think when I’m happy and I’m having fun, I feel like I’m at my best. So, this week kind of blends well into the two elements for me.

“If I get a little bit too into it, a little bit sort of too strict on myself, it can have negative effects, said 34-year-old Waring, whose first win came in last year’s Nordea Masters.

“When I’m bouncing around and having a laugh, it’s the true me. It’s showing this season how I’m playing. Enjoying myself a bit more.”

Finau said: “I was happy with the way I played. Missed a short one on 17, but outside of that I played really nicely.

“I thought it was tough. That front nine, every hole was into the wind. It was quite cool this morning when we teed off, so a lot of those holes played a lot harder than they normally do with the wind.

“I was happy to get around the front nine in a couple under and I was able to score on the back nine,” said Finau, whose only PGA Tour win came in Puerto Rico, three years ago.

“It’s very cool to be at the Home of Golf. The Old Course, there’s nothing like it. So, to be able to tee it up tomorrow and play and have a chance to win a golf tournament here is going to be something special,” added Finau.

For final round scores click here.

The post Southgate hopes to complete St Andrews double by adding the Dunhill to Links Trophy appeared first on Golf North.

Matthew Jordan playing the 18th on St Andrews Old Course in the second round of the Alfred Dunhill LInks, which he leads after a superb 64. Picture by GETTY IMAGES

MATTHEW Jordan carded a stunning 64, which included a hole-out eagle two followed by five successive birdies, at St Andrews Old Course to take the halfway lead in the Alfred Dunhill Links Championship.

The promising Cheshire has been plying his trade primarily on the European Challenge Tour this year, where the Royal Liverpool member has already claimed a maiden professional victory.

And he knows how to win around the Old Course having claimed the St Andrews Links Trophy two years ago – arguably the leading strokeplay event for amateurs in the UK – shooting nine-under for 54 holes, having played the first round on the Jubilee.

The 2017 Walker Cup player, who grew up playing at Hoylake currently sits second in the Road to Mallorca rankings – and he continues to impress in his dalliances with the European Tour.

The 23-year-old led the opening round of the Betfred British Masters in May, eventually finishing in a share of 15^th place at Hillside Golf Club, showing his likeness for the Southport links not far from his home.

And he is out in front once again on British soil after a round which caught fire when he holed out with his approach at the par-four third hole.

Five birdies in a row from the fourth led to a front nine 29 and stirred hope of a potential chase for the magic number of 59.

Jordan, who clearly relishes links golf, said: “After that start, I wanted to keep momentum, because I knew I would have chances.

“I’ll just try and go as low as possible because the scoring is so good. You can’t make a few birdies and think, oh, I’ve done my job.

“I was just free-wheeling it really. I wasn’t thinking too much which is probably a good thing.

“A 59 did cross my mind once. I had my friends here and they were quick to tell me that they wanted the same on the back nine.

“I’ve done quite well recently. I had one more invite so I just asked my managers, and tried to sort it out because I really wanted to play it – and I absolutely love this place.

“I am must trying to make the most of it,” added Jordan.

Eight pars and a birdie on the way home were still enough to earn the Liverpudlian a 14-under total and a one-stroke advantage over his friend, Challenge Tour No, 1 Calum Hill, the leading Scot at halfway, as well as Essex’s Matthew Southgate and Swede Joakim Lagergren.

Hill, who has one twice on the Challenge Tour this year, said: “It’s always nice to be at home and play in front of family and friends that can come out and watch.

“And it’s even better that I played well and they can enjoy themselves because of that as well.

“It’s slightly different this week because everyone is playing a different course at a different time,”added Hill, who is just one win away from automatich promotion to the main tour under the current rules.

“It’s just about playing as well as you can, and going as low as you can over these first two days and then after three rounds, I think you can look at your position a bit better and judge what you need to do for the final day.”

World No. 4 Justin Rose was among the six players in a tie for fifth position on 12-under.

Rose, was also on 59 watch after making six birdies and an eagle in eight holes at Kingsbarn – where the featured players on Sky TV’s coverage were playing in the second round.

The Hampshire ace, who has spoken about the effects of Hurricane Dorian on the Bahamas, where his family have had their main home for some five years, said: “It was an unbelievable front nine.

“Obviously a great round. Got me in the tournament. Eleven birdies, never going to be disappointed with that.

“I’m taking credit for the 28. JT (Justin Timberlake) was over the back of the par five third green in three, putted up near my coin and gave me a perfect read and I made an eagle putt.”

If Rose and Jordan can keep their place near the top of the leaderboard – and possibly find themselves paired for Sunday’s final round, they will have more than one thing in common.

Jordan’s first national win as an amateur came at North Hants – Rose’s home course – in the 2016 Hampshire Hog, the event won in 1995 as a 14-year-old by the Ryder Cup star, who quickly became the country’s hottest young prospect.

And Rose was the Hampshire player to win the St Andrews Links Trophy back in 1997 – the summer he became the youngest player to appear in the Walker Cup, having been selected – like Jordan – after his win at St Andrews.

Rose is tied alongside two home stars in Russell Knox and Richie Ramsey as well as New Zealand’s Ryan Fox, Wiltshire’s Jordan Smith and Frenchman Victor Perez.

•For live scores from the third round of the Alfred Dunhill Links. click here.

Rose family helping relief effort in Bahamas after Hurricane Dorian

JUSTIN ROSE lives in Nassau, some 100 miles south of where the eye of the storm hit but it certainly has given Rose a hefty dose of reality.

Rose said before the event began: “We were very fortunate to get away with it.

“We caught the fringes of the storm. We had three days of 40-miles-an-hour wind but nothing to impact the house, nothing dangerous at all.

“Just coastal erosion, beach erosion, stuff like that. We feel very lucky to get away with it.

“You realise how vulnerable you are when you see the power of the storm and what it can do.

“Nassau has become very much the heart of the relief effort. That’s where my wife is, at a children’s home in Nassau, working and helping and doing what she can.

“A lot of us in the community have done as much fundraising as possible.

“Where I live at, Tiger Woods and Justin Timberlake have been involved in setting up a significant fund that can try to help some of the rebuilding process.

“In a small community like the Bahamas, when something so devastating happens, we definitely club together pretty well. It’s pretty devastating really to see.

“We can lose family, that’s one of the worst things that can happen. But to lose maybe your whole family and your whole family home. Kids are orphaned.

“There are going to be many stories of things like this. Golf is insignificant at that point. It’s always family first and these tragedies rip families apart.

“Those are very important things to think about when you get a little bit ahead of yourself and above your station.

“Your putt lips out and you think it’s the end of the world. Those are the moments when you’ve got to check yourself.”

McDowell wasn’t ready to play golf after holiday home was ‘flattened’

FORMER US Open winner Graeme McDowell and his family were lucky to escape after their holiday home on Abaco was “totally flattened.”

McDowell pulled out of the BMW PGA Championship at Wentworth last week because his mind was not on playing golf after the worst natural disaster in the Bahama’s history.

Some 1,300 people are still officially missing and 70,000 were made homeless after 180mph winds caused an estimated $7billion of damage to property.

McDowell said: “It was a beautiful community we lived-in but with the eye of the hurricane passing right over the island, every house was totally flattened.

“The winds were also so strong, I heard from a neighbour they found one of my wedges hundreds of yards away along the beachfront, and knew it was one of my clubs as it had my marking on it.

“More importantly, friends and so many people we had met down there have lost everything and while it was a vacation home for us, these people we’ve come to know so well, lived permanently on Abaco.

“It hurts Kristin and I to lose our house but to see people losing their lives down there along with people losing their homes – and now not knowing what to do with their lives – is an enormous tragedy that we are still trying to come to terms with.

“Since the hurricane we have been trying to help as much as we can in arranging for a truck of supplies carrying generators along with food and water, and trying to do every little bit to help in any way we can.

“At first, we didn’t know [the extent of the damage] as we had little communication from our own little community for nearly two weeks afterwards as it was also impossible to both fly into or fly out of local airports.

“There was also huge amount of violence and looting and things like that going on, so it’s been a very emotional month.”

McDowell, who was married on the beach by the golf course, revealed: “We had plans in place to be down at Abaco that very week the hurricane struck.

“But we pulled the plug on those plans about three or four days before the hurricane arrived,” he said.

“The last time I was down there was at the end of July for my 40^th birthday.

“So, while we are talking about life and death here, the house was just a material thing for us that we can replace.

“What you have to worry about is that there is still over 1,000 people still not accounted for and that makes for scary stuff.”

Fellow Ulsterman Darren Clarke also had a holiday home in Abaco, which has staged the Hero World Challenge in recent years, and like McDowell, got married – to his second wife Alison – on the same beach.

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