Rasmus Hojgaard. Pic: Getty Images/ European Tour
Belfry, Aug 30: Teenaged Danish golfer, Ramus Hojgaard became only the second teen to win two titles on the European Tour as he won the UK Championship, beating Justin Walters in the second play-off hole at The Belfry. He became the first player born in the 21st century to come through Qualifying School last year and soon won in Mauritius, with Matteo Manassero the only other golfer to have captured two titles before turning 20.
Hojgaard edged ahead of 39-year-old Justin Walters, who had led the tournament for most part. Also in with a chance till the end was Martin Kaymer, whose last win came in 2014.
On a dramatic final day at The Belfry, the 19-year-old Hojgaard came from five strokes back to finish level with Walters on 14 under par.
When the contest went to extra holes, Højgaard held his nerve with consecutive pars down the 18th, with his South African opponent making a bogey on the second trip back down the last after shanking his approach from a bunker.
Walters, who turned pro when Hojgaard was two years old started the day five shots ahead. Hojgaard, who was playing two groups ahead of Walters had three birdies in first six holes, while Walters had a bogey on second but followed that up with three birdies in a row from third to fifth. Then Walters suffered a big blow with a triple bogey on Par-4 eighth and he turned in one-over 37, while Hojgaard turned in three-under 33.
On the back nine, Hogaard birdied three times and bogeyed once but eagled the Par-5 17th and parred the 18th to set a target of 14-under.
Walters responded well despite a bogey on 13th with three birdies in four holes from 14th to 177th, but it was Hojgaard’s eagle that made the difference and helped the teenager to catch up with the overnight leader.
In the play-off Hojgaard held his nerves better and won on the second play-off hole as he shanked his second shot.
Martin Kaymer, too, playing in the final pairing with Walters, was in with a chance. He was actually 14-under after 16 holes and actually one ahead of Walters when he came off the 16th green. That tied him with Hojgaard who had finished.
On the 17th, while Walters birdied to get to 14-under, Kaymer bogeyed to fall to 13-under. Neither birdied or bogeyed the 18th. Kaymer ended in a tie with Benjamin Herbert (69) who also had a roller coaster of a final round with four birdies, an eagle on Par-4 sixth and three birdies to finish at 13-under a group behind Walters and Kaymer and a group behind Hojgaard.
Bernd Wiesberger (65) with four birdies in last four holes, and Craig Howie (65) were both bogey free, but stopped at 12-under and ended in a tie for fifth.
India’s Shubhankar Sharma had missed the cut on Friday.
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