Viktor Hovland made a remarkable final-round charge to defeat Richard Bland in the first playoff hole and win the Dubai Desert Classic on Sunday.
The 24-year-old Norwegian, six shots off overnight leader Justin Harding, produced a storming finish, sandwiching a terrific eagle two on the par-four 17th hole with birdies on the 16th and 18th to close with a sensational six-under-par 66.
That took him to 12-under par and set the clubhouse mark, which was later matched by England’s Bland, double the age of Hovland, after a stunning 22-feet birdie on the 18th hole.
Bland, who turns 49 in three days, chipped in for a birdie on the difficult ninth hole, and then holed his tough bunker shot on the par-three 11th.
However, the most crucial shot was the 22-feet birdie putt on the 18th, as he closed with a 68.
The fairytale continues for @blandy73! 🙌
He joins Viktor Hovland in the clubhouse on -12.
#SlyncDDC | #RolexSeries pic.twitter.com/NQX9kFMXq0— DP World Tour (@DPWorldTour) January 30, 2022
Rory McIlroy reached the 17th tee at 12-under par, but slightly blocked his tee shot into the right bushes on the reachable par four.
He proceeded to make a remarkable par, but sliced his 3-wood second shot on the par-five 18th into the water.
Rory McIlroy finds the water on 18.#SlyncDDC | #RolexSeries pic.twitter.com/TfO2NwOpst
— DP World Tour (@DPWorldTour) January 30, 2022
He finished with a bogey and was third at 11-under par.
Hovland never looked in contention after making a three-putt bogey from 33 feet on the 15th hole.
But he then drained a 35-footer for birdie on the 16th, a 33-footer for eagle on the 17th and missed a 40-footer for eagle on the 18th.
Viktor Hovland wins the @SlyncDDC! 🏆#SlyncDDC | #RolexSeries pic.twitter.com/v68aM4lUbV
— DP World Tour (@DPWorldTour) January 30, 2022
He is expected to rise two places to No 3 in the world rankings next week.
Harding finished T3 after shooting a four-over 76.
© Agence France-Presse
