Nicolai Hojgaard came from two-shot deficit on the final day to secure victory in the season-ending DP World Tour Championship.
The 22-year-old Dane produced a sublime back-nine performance in the final round at Jumeirah Golf Estates with nine birdies, five of them in a row, to card an eight-under 64 and end the tournament on 21 under, a new clubhouse record, two shots clear of Viktor Hovland, Matt Wallace, and Tommy Fleetwood.
This is Hojgaard’s third career victory on the DP World Tour but first since the 2022 Ras Al Khaimah Championship. The win has also moved the Dane up to second in the season-long Race to Dubai standings.
“It’s the sweetest one and so much hard work has been put in the last couple of years – and this year has been a really good year,” Hojgaard said speaking to SKy Sports. “I felt like the only thing that was missing was a win and to get it this week in this field is unbelievable. I can’t believe it’s just happened.
“Having that putt on 18 to close it out and it slips by, I felt like it was quite a tough moment for me actually. I was like, ‘Did it just slip away? Do we have to go in a play-off?’ But we regrouped and took it a bit easy. This feels amazing.
“I have to say this is probably the best golf I’ve played in a tournament because this is the strongest field in my three wins. I’m definitely going to enjoy this.”
Rory McIlroy, who last week clinched his fifth Race to Dubai title, finished tied-22nd on 10 under alongside South Africa’s Zander Lombard, France’s Julien Guerrier, and Austria’s Sepp Straka.
“It’s great, it shows my consistency year to year,” McIlroy said speaking to Sky Sports. “Over the last 10 years I’ve won eight season-long titles between here and America, so it shows my consistency. It’s just about being clinical when I get to weeks where I have a chance to win.
“Overall it has been another great year, the stroke average has been great and hopefully more of the same going into next year and beyond.”
The 2024 campaign of the DP World Tour tees off with the Fortinet Australian PGA Championship and the Joburg Open both taking place between 23-26 November.