DP World Tour Championship: Nicolai Hojgaard holds off Ryder Cup steam-mates to win Dubai thriller | Golf News
Nicolai Hojgaard finishes two ahead of Ryder Cup team-mates Tommy Fleetwood and Viktor Hovland and overnight leader Matt Wallace; Jon Rahm shares fifth place as Race to Dubai champion Rory McIlroy ends week in tied-22nd
By Ali Stafford
Last Updated: 19/11/23 12:18pm
Nicolai Hojgaard claimed a two-shot victory in Dubai
Nicolai Hojgaard produced a sensational back-nine birdie run to hold off Ryder Cup team-mates Tommy Fleetwood and Viktor Hovland and claim a dramatic victory at the season-ending DP World Tour Championship.
Hojgaard overturned a three-stroke deficit during a thrilling final round at Jumeirah Golf Estates, where he fired five consecutive birdies from the 13th to card an eight-under 64 and set the clubhouse target at 21 under.
The birdie burst pulled the 22-year-old ahead of Hovland, Fleetwood and overnight leader Matt Wallace, who all required a final-hole eagle to match the Dane’s total and force a play-off.
Tommy Fleetwood climbed into the early lead after a stunning birdie-eagle start to his final round
Hovland could only scramble a closing par after finding the hazard with his approach into the par-five last and Wallace found water off the tee, with Hojgaard’s third DP World Tour victory confirmed when Fleetwood was unable to hole his third shot from the fairway.
The chasing trio all carded closing pars to end the week in tied-second on 19 under, with defending champion Jon Rahm sharing fifth after a final-round 66 and Race to Dubai winner Rory McIlroy signing off his season in tied-22nd after a two-under 70.
Rory McIlroy produced a stunning 70-foot birdie during his final round in Dubai
More to follow…
What’s next?
There’s less than 96 hours between the 2023 Race to Dubai season finishing and the 2024 campaign starting, with co-sanctioned events in both Australia and South Africa live on Sky Sports.
The Fortinet Australian PGA Championship is live on Thursday from 1.30am on Sky Sports Golf, with the Joburg Open then on from 10am. Stream the PGA Tour, DP World Tour, LPGA Tour and more with NOW.
