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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Matthias Schwab eagled the first at The Montgomerie Maxx Royal on his way to a 12-under total at the halfway mark in the Turkish Airlines Open. Picture by GETTY IMAGES

MATTHIAS Schwab maintained his position at the top of the Turkish Airlines Open leaderboard after another low-scoring day at The Montgomerie Maxx Royal.

But America’s Patrick Reed, who received a captain’s pick for the Presidents Cup overnight, clearly took inspiration from his phone call with United States captain Tiger Woods.

Reed – nicknamed Captain America after his heroic performances in his Ryder Cup debut at Hazletine in 2016 – carded a seven-under par 65 to move to nine-under, just three strokes behind Schwab.

“It means so much to me,” said Reed. “Representing our country and wearing red, white and blue is something I absolutely love and am so proud of.

“To be able to go out and get a pick, especially from captain Woods, was amazing,” added the 2018 Masters Champion.

“The big thing, and what I always was preaching, as well as what he was telling all the guys is, hey, go out and play good golf.

“Playing well takes care of everything. I was able to do that this last couple months. I was able to get on the right side and get the game in form and play the way I’m supposed to be playing.

“And because of that, I was lucky enough to be able to get a pick. Now the big thing is now that I’ve got a pick is go out and try to earn points for captain and go bring back the cup.”

Austrian Schwab started the day in a share of the lead at the sixth Rolex Series event of the 2019 Race to Dubai.

But after the redraw for the second round, a number of golfers quickly made their move up the leaderboard – with 10 competitors finishing the day on 10-under par or better by the close of play.

Schwab, who got off to a fast start picking up two shots at the first, said: “I wasn’t really hitting them great at all, especially early on but kept it together.

“Obviously the start was good with an eagle on the first hole, but then it was not very nice to watch I think.

“The long game wasn’t on but I managed to make a few good pars. On the back nine I found my swing a little bit and made a few good birdies coming home.

“Every made putt is important. I had a few good par saves on the previous holes, too, but the one on nine kept the round going a little bit.

“And then the back nine it was a little bit better. I just gave myself a few more looks on the back nine than the front nine.

“It was just keeping it together and I made a few good pars, especially on nine where I hit it on in the water off the tee and scrambled to make par.

“Then on the back nine I was better with my long game. I had a few good looks and was able to make some.”

Twenty-four-year-old Schwab leads the standings in the highest number of top 10 finishes on the European Tour this season, with nine.

Schwab has five top 10s in his last eight starts, including a share of fourth place finishes at the Italian Open, and his debut World Golf Championships appearance at last week’s WGC-HSBC Champions in Shanghai.

He birdied the last to move to 12-under, one stroke ahead of Thomas Detry, who finished third at this event last year, former Wentworth member Ross Fisher and two-time Rolex Series winners Alex Noren and Danny Willett.

Willett has two Rolex Series wins under his belt after his victory in the BMW PGA Championship at Wentworth, in September.

The 2016 Masters Champion was happier with his performance in round two.

“A lot better than yesterday,” said Willett. “Real solid. Didn’t really give ourselves too many silly things. Had a couple of three-putts in there which was slightly annoying, but a nice score to build on over the weekend.

“We’re making some good moves. Trying to keep doing the same. Golf course is there for the taking.

“Going to see a lot of low scores. You’ve just got to hope that someone doesn’t go too crazy over the weekend and hope you’re still in there with a shout with 18 or nine to play,” Willett added.

“I said at the beginning of the week, it could be at least 20-under par winning this tournament – and it’s right on track for that.

“You just have to keep your foot down and keep trying at birdies and see what you can do.”

Noren is looking for his first win since last year’s French Open at Le Paris National, where he made his Ryder Cup debut two months later.

Noren said “On the front nine, I played the best I can play pretty much, and the back nine, I had a lot of chances.

“The short game kind of went on me a little bit. I’m happy with 11-under total. See what the weekend has.

“Yesterday, I played probably the best I’ve played, and today the front nine was amazing. So I take out a lot of positives.

“You know, if somebody said you get 11-under after two days, I’d take it. I just have to refocus and not think of what it could have been today – but that’s how it is.”

Defending champion Justin Rose, who is bidding to become just the fourth golfer to win a regular European Tour event three years in a row, shares sixth place with four others on 10-under.

•To follow live scoring in the third round of the Turkish Airlines Open, click here.

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Matthias Schwab birdied the last at The Montgomerie Maxx Royal to tie Tom Lewis at the top of the first round leaderboard in the Turkish Airlines Open. Picture by GETTY IMAGES

HERTFORDSHIRE’S Tom Lewis and Matthias Schwab share a one-shot lead fter a low scoring opening day in the Turkish Airlines Open at The Montgomerie Maxx Royal.

Perfect conditions greeted the leading players on the 2019 Race to Dubai as they gathered in Antalya for the sixth Rolex Series event of the season.

And it was former British Boys Champion Lewis and Schwab who took the most advantage of the conditions, carding rounds of 65 to get to seven-under par.

Austrian Schwab has nine top 10s so far this season, including two top fives in his last three events at the Italian Open – his best finish in a Rolex Series event – and on his debut at the WGC-HSBC Champions, in Shanghai, last week.

Lewis’ two European Tour wins have both come at the Portugal Masters and the Welwyn Garden City member birdied six of his last seven holes to rocket up the leaderboard.

But 28-year-old Lewis was a recent winner in the USA , claiming the Korn Ferry Tour Championship, at Indiana’s Victoria National GC, in September, to earn his PGA Tour card for 2020.

And that form followed him across the Atlantic to Belek. Lewis said: “I just holed the putts.

“I felt like I wasn’t comfortably rolling it on the front nine, even though I hit some good shots.

“On the back nine I continued to hit good shots, and I felt more confident on putts,” said Lewis who was in the same Walker Cup team that faced America at Royal Aberdeen in 2011, as Steven Brown, the winner at this last month’s Portugal Masters.

“That’s going to be the difference this week between the guy that wins and the guys that don’t,” added Lewis, who also won the prestigious St Andrews Links Trophy at the Home of Golf in 2011, before going on to lead the Open at Royal St George’s as an amateur on the first day that summer.

“I think he’s going to get good breaks, he’s going to roll it well,” said Lewis, who hails from the same club where Nick Faldo became the country’s top teenage talent, in the mid 1970s.

Schwab made the quicker start of the two leaders before catching Lewis on the 18th with his ?? birdie of the day.

“It was a very good round for me,” said Schwab. “I got off to a nice start – five-under through eight and managed to keep the momentum going on the back nine.

“I was hitting it nicely today and made a few putts, so overall it was a good day for me.

“I’m just trying to give it my best. Every time I tee it up, it seems to be working well the last few months, but I have no recipe.”

The leaders have an elite chasing pack behind them, with Ryder Cup stars Alex Noren, from Sweden, and Belgian Thomas Pieters just a shot further back at six-under, alongside the USA’s two-time European Tour winner David Lipsky.

Hampshire’s two-time defending champion Justin Rose finished with three birdies in a row.

He sits at five-under alongside Yorkshire’s double Rolex Series tournament winner Danny Willett, Belgian Thomas Detry, Frenchman Benjamin Hebert, Scotland’s Scott Jamieson and Dutchman Joost Luiten.

Noren, who has struggled to find the form that earned him a Ryder Cup debut at Le Golf National, said: “I hit it well off the tee, especially after hole three, four onwards – I played really well.

“I got a lot out of my driver, which helped on the back nine, and especially on the two par fives. Just felt like an easier round than a lot of other rounds this year.

“The focus is there, definitely, and I think my game has gotten a lot better the last few months. I’m just trying to kind of put all the parts of the game together, which I did today.”

Pieters who made his debut in the big defeat by the USA at Hazeltine, in 2016, is also looking to rekindle the form that brought him an 11th housr win in the Czech Republic to earn a wildcard from European captain Darren Clarke three years ago.

“It felt lovely,” said Pieters who made a birdie at the first from the sand.

“After two weeks off, it’s nice to start like that, holing the bunker shot on the first.

“I was really striking it well with the irons, maybe not as good off the tee, but my putter bailed me out a couple times for par as well.

“All in all, very pleased. The game is in good shape. Putting well, hitting my irons very well. So maybe some work on the driving and we’ll be good.”

Lipsky said: “It’s the lowest round I’ve shot in a while and to go out there and play as solidly as I did gives me a lot of confidence going forward.

“The season has been up-and-down. I played really well in spots. Played really poorly in spots.

“I missed five, six, seven cuts in a row or something like that. It’s been up-and-down, but I feel like the game’s turning around and getting a bit of consistency back.

“I look forward to the last three events,” added Lipsky, whose last win came at last year’s Alfred Dunhill Championship, nearly a year ago.

Rose is looking to join the Nick Faldo, Colin Montgomerie and Ian Woosnam as the only players to win a regular European Tour event three years’ running.

The North Hants GC member who birdied the last three holes said: “I guess job done. The hot finish was exactly what we needed.

“I was aware of the leaderboard. Obviously, it was a perfect day to play golf as it normally is here in Turkey, and I could see the lads got in low.

“Our group was having some frustrations – just trying to make the birdies, certainly make the putts.”

Rose added: “As the sun got low, you could kind of see what you’re facing and it’s difficult to trust your reads coming in.

“I managed to wiggle in there the last few holes, so delighted with the score, really, more than anything.”

•For live scoring from the Turkish Airlines Open click here.

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Justin Rose will be lookng to join Faldo, Monty and Woosie, as only players to have won a regular European Tour event three years in a row. Picture by GETTY IMAGES

AS twice-defending champion, Justin Rose is bidding to join a list of European Tour greats as he returns to the Turkish Airlines Open.

If the North Hants GC member were to successfully defend his title for the second year in a row, Rose would join Nick Faldo, Colin Montgomerie and Ian Woosnam as the only players to achieve the feat of winning a non-Major or WGC event in three consecutive years.

The 2013 US Open Champion and 2016 Olympic Gold Medallist finished one stroke ahead of Nicolas Colsaerts and Dylan Frittelli in 2017, before defeating Li Haotong in a play-off last year to defend a title for the first time in his career.

Rose said: “You don’t get the opportunity to do that very often, so three-peat would clearly be a first for me.

“There’s a great list of players to maybe join on the European Tour, I believe it’s Monty, Faldo and Ian Woosnam – really illustrious company.

“Turkey has been a wonderful spot for me. I’ve been lucky to play well here every time I’ve been, going back to 2012.

“Played this venue in 2013, had my worst finish, third, so I need to step that up to keep my current record going.

“It’s an exciting week for me, obviously trying to go three in a row which is something I’ve never done in my career.

“I guess that’s the focus but also, you can never really approach a tournament that way,” Rose added.

“I’ve got to try and take care of business, make sure I’m prepared and get my game in good shape and then commit to the plan.

“I’m driving the ball quite well at the moment, probably my highlight of the game at the minute along with my putting.

“If I can get my mid-irons going – and maybe some five-woods and long irons into the par fives – and try to take advantage of them, obviously set up some low scoring.

“The weather is always perfect in Turkey, which generally leads to low scores.”

But, as the 2019 Race to Dubai nears its climax, Rose faces stiff competition at the Montgomerie Maxx Royal as the fight to become European No. 1 continues at the sixth Rolex Series event of the 2019 Race to Dubai season.

Rose will play alongside current Race to Dubai rankings leader Bernd Wiesberger and reigning Open Champion Shane Lowry, who sits in third on the rankings, for the first round.

Wiesberger, a winner of two Rolex Series events in 2019 after his return from a wrist injury – the Aberdeen Standard Investments Scottish Open and Italian Open – leads the standings by just over 300 points with just three events to play.

“It would be amazing to win the Race to Dubai, said Wiesberger. “It’s an unbelievable list of legends, and of European golf, and world golf, that’s on that list.

“To have the chance to put my name among them would be amazing. I’m looking forward to these next events, and we’re definitely going to give it our all.

“Jon and Shane are two and three still, but Rory had a great win last week and made up a lot of points.

“We are in good position going into the last events and looking forward to what’s ahead – and hopefully giving us a good look at some decent results in all three of them,” Wiesberger added.

The winner of the Turkish Airlines Open will receive 1,500 points, with the winners of the Nedbank Golf Challenge and DP World Tour Championship, Dubai receiving 1,665 and 2,000 points respectively.

•For live scoring from the Turkish Airlines Open click here.

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Open Champion Shane Lowry wants a win in the Turkish Airlines Open to boost his chances of wining the 2019 Race to Dubia. Picture by GETTY IMAGES

OPEN Champion Shane Lowry has his sights set on a strong finish to the 2019 Race to Dubai with the aim of becoming European No. 1 for the first time in his career as he prepares for the Turkish Airlines Open.

The Irishman, who triumphed at Royal Portrush in July, is less than 700 points behind current Race to Dubai rankings leader Bernd Wiesberger.

But, with increased points on offer in the final three events of the season, there is still all to play for, starting at The Montgomerie Maxx Royal in Belek, this week – – the sixth Rolex Series event of the season.

Already a Rolex Series winner this year after securing the Abu Dhabi HSBC Championship in January, Lowry is going in search of a sixth European Tour title in Turkey.

Lowry was unable to mount a charge for a second WGC title in the HSBC Champions in Shanghai last week, finishing 43rd some 18 shots behind Rory McIlroy.

“It’s my main goal over the next few weeks to perform as best as I can,” said Lowry.

“It would be lovely if I got to the final 18 holes in Dubai with a chance to win the Race to Dubai. To be European No. 1 would be really special and would add to the year I’ve had.

“I think it would be the icing on the cake. I’m going to give it my best shot but if I don’t win it, I won’t be too disappointed.

“I’ve had a decent year and I’d be pretty happy with what I’ve got at Christmas,” said Lowry, who won the Irish Open when still an amateur in 2008.

“To start the year with a win in Abu Dhabi at a Rolex Series event was huge – that gave me the confidence going forward.

“Outside of a Major, as a European Tour player it probably doesn’t get much bigger. There are WGCs as well, but Rolex Series events are definitely up there.”

Returning to Turkey with happy memories from last year are Thomas Detry and Martin Kaymer.

Belgian Detry recorded his best finish in a Rolex Series event at Regnum Carya Golf & Spa Resort.

A back-nine blitz of five consecutive birdies saw him move to 15-under, two strokes behind defending champion Justin Rose, who defeated Li Haotong in a play-off.

Detry said: “I have just taken two weeks off, so I feel fresh and ready to play well.

“Got good memories from here last year. Finished third. It’s the start of a good stretch of golf and hopefully we’ll make the best out of this week.

“I rested the first week, really not doing much. Just seeing friends and been working out but not that much.

“Last week I picked up the clubs again. The weather unfortunately is not that good at home, but very happy to see some sun again.

“Last year, I played well the whole week. I think it was on Sunday afternoon, I made five birdies in a row and pushed me from 15^th spot to tied for third.

“It was amazing. The golf course was amazing. The weather is fantastic. It’s a beautiful place. You have everything you need, practice facilities, hotels and good golf courses.

“I played nine holes yesterday. The course is beautiful, really good,” added Detry, who is still looking for his maiden win on the European Tour.

“Played here a long time ago when I was practicing. I came down here with the Belgian federations, and I’ve had a faint memory of a few holes. But it will be good to play to refresh my mind.”

Kaymer finished in a share of fifth last year and is a regular visitor to the region.

Kaymer said: “I came here I think every year since the tournament is on. It’s nice, especially that time of year.

“Being in Germany last week, seeing the weather there, the practice facilities. It’s nice to come out here and enjoy the great golf courses that they have around here.

“The game is feeling fine. I feel fairly calm on the golf course. I really enjoy that whole process that I’m going through right now, focusing on the right things. Not being distracted too much by stuff that doesn’t really matter.

“Yeah, it’s one of those weeks that I look forward to every year to get here,” added Kaymer, whose last of 11 European Tour wins came in the 2014 US Open.

“Sometimes it’s a bit underrated. It does still mean that you had a decent season. That’s all you can do this week. Try to do your best and stick to that form.”

At 66^th and 71^st on the Race to Dubai rankings respectively, both players will be looking to secure their spots in the Nedbank Golf Challenge and DP World Tour Championship, Dubai.

Just the top 60 and then 50 players available from the Race to Dubai rankings will take part in the final two events of the season.

•To see the first round tee times in the Turkish Airlines Open click here.

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Justin Rose will attempt to match Colin Montgomerie’s record of winning the same tournament three times in a row when he tees it up in next month’s Turkish Airlines Open. Picture by GETTY IMAGES

JUSTIN Rose will aim to become the first player in almost two decades to win three consecutive European Tour tournaments when he defends his title at next month’s Turkish Airlines Open at Antalya’s Montgomerie Maxx Royal.

The Hampshire ace has been outstanding on his last two visits to Antalya, winning both the 2017 and 2018 Turkish Airlines Open titles with a combined score of 35-under par.

Rose’s relentless run next to the Mediterranean began when he won the forerunner to the Turkish Airlines Open – the eight-man Turkish Airlines World Golf Final which included Tiger Woods and Rory McIlroy among five of the world’s top 10 – in 2012.

His third place at the inaugural Turkish Airlines Open in 2013 was his lowest finish in four visits to the country.

And such has been his impact on golf in the country, he was honoured with Turkey’s Distinguished Service Award for his charity work by Minister of Foreign Affairs Mr Mevlüt Çavasoglu in 2017.

Now in its seventh edition, the tournament returns to Antalya’s Montgomerie Maxx Royal, which hosted the first three Turkish Airlines Opens.

Rose will attempt to become just the fourth player – and the first since Colin Montgomerie in 2000 – to win three successive European Tour tournaments.

World No. 7 Rose, whose two wins came at Regnum Carya Golf & Spa Resort, said: “I’ve enjoyed a great run at the Turkish Airlines Open and have a lot of happy memories of Antalya, on, and off, the course.

“Myself and my family love it there and the welcome is always so warm,” said the member at Fleet’s North Hants Golf Club.

Rose added: “I had never won two consecutive times at the same tournament before, let alone three, so that would be incredible.

“But you can’t take anything for granted in golf. It will be a strong field as always and I’ll just prepare as well as I can and try to be in the mix on Sunday.

“We’re back at the Montgomerie Maxx Royal this year. I remember it being a great course and venue – and I’m sure it will be another superb tournament.”

The Turkish Airlines Open takes place on November 7-10 and is the sixth installment of the European Tour’s Rolex Series, the premium category of tournaments on the Race to Dubai.

As well as its backing for its national open, Turkish Airlines also supports the Challenge Tour’s Turkish Airlines Challenge as well as the Turkish Airlines World Golf Cup, its unrivalled amateur series.

Chief marketing officer Ahmet Olmuştur said: “Turkish Airlines is delighted Justin Rose will be back in Antalya to defend his Turkish Airlines Open title.

“He has set new standards here and it will take an impressive performance from anyone to take the trophy away from him.

“We are now in our seventh year as one of Europe’s biggest tournaments and excitement is building for another great week at the Mongomerie Maxx Royal.”

Turkish Golf Federation president Ahmet Ağaoğlu, said: “Justin is central to the Turkish Airlines Open story and it is an honour to be welcoming him back to Turkey once again.

“He has been one of the best players in the world for so long and is a great ambassador for the sport.

“I am certain that once again he will be a key figure in a brilliant tournament.”

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