Hovland beats Bland in Dubai thriller to claim first Rolex win

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Viktor Hovland wins in Dubai (Photo by Ross Kinnaird/Getty Images)

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Viktor Hovland won his first Rolex Series title as he completed a sensational finish with a play-off victory over Richard Bland at the 2022 Slync.io Dubai Desert Classic.

The Norwegian was barely in the picture when he missed a short putt and made a bogey on the 15th but he finished birdie-eagle-birdie to sign for a 66 and post the target at 12 under.

Bland joined him in the clubhouse with a birdie-birdie finish of his own in a 68, with two-time champion Rory McIlroy finding water on the last to fall out of the play-off.

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Hovland made a two-putt birdie on the first trip back up the 18th and when Bland failed to get up and down after finding a tricky lie with his second, it was the 24-year-old who was left holding the trophy at Emirates Golf Club.

McIlroy signed for a 71 to finish at 11 under, three shots clear of South African pair Justin Harding and Erik van Rooyen, English duo Tyrrell Hatton and Sam Horsfield and Pole Adrian Meronk.

Hovland becomes the first Norwegian to win a Rolex Series event and adds this title to his maiden DP World Tour victory at the 2021 BMW International Open.

It is his third win in five starts after back-to-back victories in November and December at the World Wide Technology Championship at Mayakoba and Hero World Challenge, and could move him up to third in the Official World Golf Ranking.

“This is pretty wild. I didn’t really think this was possible going in today,” said Hovland, who started the day six shots off the lead. “I knew I had to shoot a really low number but a lot of things had to go my way and I’m thankful that they did.

“I’m pumping right now. It’s a little bit surreal and it’s hard to kind of calm yourself a little bit but you’ve just got to rely on all the shots that you hit and just go back to what you know.

“I was fuming after the three-putt on 15 and thought that was it and I knew I just had to try to finish off well and get a nice position for the week. I rolled a really long one on 16 and then on 17 and, hey, we got a shot.”

As for the other Irish in the field, Padraig Harrington birdied his closing two holes in an even par 72 for a seven-under par tally and a tie for ninth. Shane Lowry also birdied the closing hole in a one-under 71 for a four-under total and a tie for 24th. Harrington takes home a cool €145,414 with Lowry banking €75,696 ahead of another lucrative, if not controversial week as he turns his attention to Saudi.

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One response to “Hovland beats Bland in Dubai thriller to claim first Rolex win”

  1. Pauline Martin avatar
    Pauline Martin

    Was Rory o the town last night to do what he did to’-day.
    I thought his new caddie was to sort him out. A pute amateur woud not have made those daft decisions

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