Li Haotong beat Thomas Pieters in a playoff with a gigantic birdie putt to complete a stunning wire-to-wire victory at the BMW International Open.
The Chinese star made a dream start to Sunday’s final round, with three birdies in his first five holes extending his three-shot overnight lead to five.
But four bogeys and a solitary birdie in his next 10 holes opened the door for the chasing pack and he was joined at the top of the leaderboard with three to play.
Li rediscovered the form that had seen him equal the course record at Golfclub München Eichenried on Thursday in the closing stages, though, making birdies at the 16th and 17th to regain a one-shot lead heading down the last.
But his birdie putt on the 18th green lipped out, and with Pieters safely securing his birdie, the contest had to be decided by a playoff.
And after narrowly avoiding the water with his approach at the first playoff hole, Li managed to get up and down for a closing birdie thanks to a monster putt.
Wow! 🤯
Haotong Li wins in style. One of the best putts he will hit in his career!#BMWInternationalOpen pic.twitter.com/1SeNxC9qa9
— DP World Tour (@DPWorldTour) June 26, 2022
That piled the pressure on Pieters to hole his tricky 10-footer and he was unable to do so, handing victory to an emotional Li, who admitted afterwards that he had been considering quitting golf just 10 months ago.
The 26-year-old’s previous DP World Tour victory saw him overcome Rory McIlroy in a thrilling final-round battle in Dubai in January 2018 and this time he found himself duelling another Ryder Cup star in Pieters.
Belgian Pieters carded seven birdies and two bogeys in his 67 to catch runaway leader Li at the summit on 22 under par, and he looked in good shape to win the playoff, with Li much further away after three shots.
But a dramatic finish meant Pieters had to settle for second spot, while New Zealander Ryan Fox finished two shots further back in third.
South Africa’s Louis Oosthuizen finished on 16 under for a share of eighth position.
– Report from DP World Tour website
