BUBBA WINS GENESIS OPEN FOR A THIRD TIME
Week 7

Bubba Watson ended two years without winning with his third victory at the Genesis Open moving to World No.40.

Joost Luiten got the better of Chris Wood in a final-day battle to win his sixth European Tour title at the inaugural NBO Oman Open moving to World No.68.

Jaco Ahlers put pedal to the metal after the turn on Sunday to accelerate away to a comfortable three-stroke victory in the Dimension Data Pro-Am played at Fancourt moving to World No. 273.

19TH FEBRUARY 2018 | 07:23 AM

PGA Tour - Genesis Open

Bubba Watson ended two years without winning with his third victory at the Genesis Open moving to World No.40.

Watson had a one-shot lead going into the final round, though this was up for grabs from the start. A week of sun made Riviera firmer than usual and penalized even the slightest mistakes, especially starting on the 12th hole when the course turns back toward the west and into the wind.

Watson hit a delicate chip from short of the 12th green to 8 feet and made the par putt on its last turn. Then, he came up short to a tough pin on the 13th, chipped to 8 feet and made it again to take a one-shot lead.

His big moment came on the 14th. Watson hit too big of a fade toward the left pin, and it came up short and into the bunker. He blasted out and watched it bang into the pin and disappear, and he pointed at caddie Ted Scott and said, "You called it."

From there, he didn't make any mistakes with regulation pars on the next two holes, two putts from 60 feet for birdie on the 17th and a safe par on the 18th.

Defending champion Dustin Johnson, starting the final round four shots behind after a 64 on Saturday, made a double bogey on No. 5 that derailed him. Johnson made a triple bogey on that hole in the opening round.


European Tour - NBO Oman Open

Joost Luiten got the better of Chris Wood in a final-day battle to win his sixth European Tour title at the inaugural NBO Oman Open.

Al Mouj Golf has played host to some dramatic scenes on the Challenge Tour, hosting the season-ending NBO Golf Classic Grand Final, and did not disappoint on its European Tour debut.

Perfect conditions greeted the players for the fourth day in a row, with Luiten going out in the final group and holding a share of the overnight lead.

There were ten players within four shots of the lead as the final group reached the turn but it evolved into a shootout between Luiten and Wood on the back nine, with the experienced duo going toe-to-toe in the desert.

It was the Dutchman who prevailed, carding a 68 to get to 16 under and finish two shots ahead of his English rival.

Sunshine Tour - Dimension Data Pro-Am

Jaco Ahlers put pedal to the metal after the turn on Sunday to accelerate away to a comfortable three-stroke victory in the Dimension Data Pro-Am which was played at Fancourt.

The George local made an eagle and three birdies in succession after the ninth on his was to a flawless eight-under-par 64 for a 20-under-par total to defeat second-placed Jean-Paul Strydom who cared a fine six-under 66 of his own. Ireland’s Neil O’Briain also shot 66 to finish third a further stroke back.

“Those five shots I picked up as I started the back nine were unbelievable,” said Ahlers. “I started with a great second shot with a rescue on 10 which I hit to three feet for the eagle. It was flushed perfectly, and I couldn’t have asked for a better shot.

“Then I made the putts on 11, 12 and 13 and from there it was almost cruise-mode. I could get away with hitting fairways, the middle of the green and two-putting all the way home. That made the difference.”

He started the day two shots off the overnight lead, and made his move early with three birdies in his opening five holes to pull clear of two other George locals, Tjaart van der Walt and Vaughn Groenewald who were unable to build on their third-round successes.

And once Ahlers had pulled clear with his stunning four holes after the turn, he was able to relax and savour the coming victory. “I’m naturally fairly conservative,” he said. “I was very comfortable playing percentage golf coming in, and that suited me perfectly.”


Nordic Golf League - Mediter Real Estate Masters

Joachim B. Hansen won Thursday Mediter Real Estate Masters after a dramatic duel with Nicolai Kristensen. Mark Haastrup finished third in the strong field.

Today's victory is actually Joachim B. Hansen's first victory as a professional, but there was no sign of nerves at today's final round.

Joachim B. Hansen led from start to finish and stood for today's best round in 63 strokes, seven under par. It was a winning score of 15 under par with the Mediter Real Estate Masters.

"I played well and I'm really happy. It is a good feeling, told Joachim B. Hansen after the round.


PGA Tour of Australasia - Coca-Cola QLD PGA Championship

West Australian Daniel Fox has recorded his second ISPS HANDA PGA Tour of Australasia victory, taking out the Coca-Cola Queensland PGA Championship presented by Wippells Volkswagen.

Fox finished his tournament at City Golf Club with a round of 5-under 65 to move to 18-under the card, he faced a nervous wait as Canberra’s Matt Millar, playing in the same group, had an opportunity to make a birdie on the 18th hole and force a playoff.

However Millar could only manage par and finish second once again at City Golf Club.

Steven Jeffress, playing in the group behind, reached the 18th tee tied for the lead at 18-under the card, but his wayward tee set up what would eventually be a bogey on the last.

Aron Price was the last man able to make a run at a playoff, he required an eagle on the 18th hole but recorded a par making Fox the 2018 champion.

“I was just lucky this week, I navigated through a couple of dry spells through the course of each round and was the last man standing,” said Fox.

“I’m very surprised; I’ve always struggled coming here even though I’ve always said this course does suit my game, I like to hit driver a lot.

Alps Tour Golf - Ein Bay Open

Italy’s Michele Cea won the Ein Bay Open at Sokhna Golf Club (Egypt) today with a total of -12, two shot ahead his compatriot Michele Ortolani.

It was Cea’s first professional win. Entering the final round as the leader at -10, Ireland’s David Carey shot a double bogey on hole 16th dampening his hopes of winning the tournament. Carey dropped down to 3rd place at -9. Italy’s Michele Ortolani finished in 2nd place at -10.

“I still can’t believe it” Cea said after his victory. “I feel amazing, it was a very tight match with a friend of mine (Ortolani) until the last hole. I could not get a better victory than this, I could not ask for a better finish” he continued. “The last putt was tough, I had a lot of pressure, I just kept my head down and it went in “ Cea explained. “The day was quite long because I had lots of thoughts going through my mind. 18 holes are long, you don’t know what’s going to happen so I just focused on what I had to do hole by hole and it paid off. My hands were shaking when I knew I had won the tournament. I just let go all the stress of the day, it was an amazing feeling” he concluded.

LATEST NEWS
VIEW ALL LATEST NEWS