Jordan Smith secured a long-awaited second DP World Tour title as he triumphed at the Portugal Masters.
The Englishman, whose maiden victory came in his rookie season in 2017 at the Porsche European Open, reached an astonishing 30 under par after four days, carding rounds of 62-67-62-63 to win by three strokes from Gavin Green. His total score however is not an official record as all four days at Dom Pedro Victoria were played with preferred lies in operation.
Smith started the final day two strokes ahead of the Malaysian, with Green keeping pace after nine holes as the pair both made the turn four under par.
“It’s just amazing. It’s been a long grind for those five seasons, just pushing it out and finally getting over the line today. Over the moon.
“I knew that today and every day I’d have to get off to fast starts and make sure I made lots of birdies. I knew there would be a lot of good scores out there and guys trying to catch me. Gavin was trying to get there and he was getting closer and closer but I managed to hold him off.
“It was a little bit (like match play). When we got down the last five or six holes, it got to that sort of stage. I knew he was four shots ahead of the guy in third so it was just between us two.
“We’ve been aggressive on (11) all week. Unfortunately a little too far right and got under that tree. To make par there and keep the round going, that was massive.
“I think it was just more me putting pressure on myself to get that second win. It’s nice getting the first but then it’s great knowing you can do it again. It’s more down to the pressure I put on myself to get the win and now I’ve got my second one we can push on for a couple more.”
Smith started the final day two strokes ahead of the Malaysian, with Green keeping pace after nine holes as the pair both made the turn four under par.
The 29-year-old then pulled clear with birdies on the tenth and 12th holes, closing with two further gains on the 15th and 17th to reach 30 under par after an eight under round of 63. Smith moves inside the top ten on the DP World Tour Rankings in partnership with Rolex, up to ninth place.
Green recorded his second runner-up finish of the season, signing for a 27 under par total, while Finland’s Tapio Pulkkanen finished third on 22 under.
As the final counting event of the 2022 DP World Tour season, the top 117 players on the DP World Tour Rankings after the Portugal Masters have retained their playing rights for next year. Spain’s Sebastian Garcia Rodriguez faced a nervy wait after missing the cut in Portugal, but finished the season in 117 position on 464 points.
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