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The latest DP World Tour event has been won by Daniel Gavins in Al Hamra in the United Arab Emirates. The Englishman finished the week with a score of -17 with Zander Lombard and Alexander Björk both narrowly missing out by just one shot on -16.
Although Gavins ended up winning by one shot, it should have been a lot more comfortable for the world number 296. Going down the 18th, a par would have been enough to finish on -19 but he incredibly found the water twice.
After scrambling to the green in six shots on the 576-yard par five, Gavins managed to sink a mammoth putt from 25 feet to card a double bogey. Despite the disastrous end to his round, no one else in the field could capitalise and Gavins secured his second professional victory.
Alexander Bjork, who was playing in the group ahead of Gavins on Sunday, could only manage a bogey on the long par five when a par would have forced a play-off. Meanwhile, Zander Lombard – the leader after three rounds in UAE – had a disappointing final day on the course and could only manage a score of par over his final 18 holes.
Shot 1: Water 🌊
Shot 2: Penalty drop ❌
Shot 3: Fairway 🚀
Shot 4: Water 🌊
Shot 5: Penalty drop ❌
Shot 6: Hits green 🎯
Shot 7: Holes a tournament winning 28ft putt 🤯The 72nd hole with @DanielGavins had it all.#RakGolfChamps pic.twitter.com/mvIGRCrVYS
— DP World Tour (@DPWorldTour) February 6, 2023
Gavins thought he’d thrown it away
After finding the water twice on his 72nd hole of the week, Gavins believed that his chances of securing his first DP World Tour victory since the ISPS Hana World Invitational in August 2021 were over. However, the 31-year-old regained his composure and made the 25-foot putt for a double bogey look simple.
He had putted incredibly well from distance all week, so it was perhaps fitting that the winning shot wasn’t a simple five-footer. After lifting the trophy, Gavins told reporters:
“I am pretty speechless. I thought I had thrown it away. I put two in the water and thought ‘that’s one way to end the tournament’.
I have been struggling off the tree for the last two weeks, I’ve been battling, and it was a difficult hole to go through. Fortunately, I holed out! I thought I was holding it for a play-off – I didn’t realise Bjork had made bogey. When I sunk the putt I saw that I was actually still winning, it was kind of a big shock.”
I was pretty relaxed all day even though my swing off the tee wasn’t great. I obviously felt it a lot on the 18th but other than that it was pretty calm.”
Singapore awaits
With the event in Al Hamra wrapped up, the next stop for the DP World Tour is Singapore. The Singapore Classic is set to begin on Thursday and with the vast majority of golf’s top-ranked players taking part in the Phoenix Open this weekend, it will provide a great opportunity for some lesser-known names to get their hands on some silverware.
The event will take place at Laguna National Golf Resort Club and the favourite going into the event is Ryan Fox. The New Zealander is ranked 30th in the world rankings, making him the highest-ranked player to be taking part.
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