Kipp Popert claimed his third G4D Tour title of the season as he overcame World Number One Brendan Lawlor to win the G4D @ BMW PGA Championship at Wentworth Club.
The Englishman held a one stroke lead after yesterday’s level par 72 on the West Course at Wentworth, despite having opened the tournament with back-to-back bogeys.
Popert’s double-bogey on the sixth hole during the final round saw Lawlor and Englishman Mike Browne move into contention as all three shared the lead on the tenth hole. But Popert hit back with four gains on his back nine, including a birdie on the famous 18th hole, to card a three under par 69, beating Lawlor into second spot after the Modest! Golf man fired a one-under 71 to take outright second at even.
“I’m very disappointed,” said Lawlor, who now has three second place finishes to his name this season.
“It was very similar to the last event. I was very good tee-to-green but the putter let me down.
“Kipp played great. He got up and down from everywhere and holed a lot of putts, he got the best out of his game, but the three-putt on 14 was a silly thing at the wrong time from me. Made a good birdie on 17 and he followed me in from 20 feet so there’s nothing you can really do about that. We’ll just have to go for Valderrama now and give it our best shot.”
The win is Popert’s third in the space of five months, adding to his successes at the G4D @ Betfred British Masters hosted by Danny Willett and G4D @ Porsche European Open.
“It feels really good, to hole that putt on the last was nice,” said Popert. “It meant a lot. The ball just went in the hole. I’ve been playing really well, today I didn’t play nearly as well as I did yesterday – my iron play was much better yesterday.
“I saw we were all tied coming into the back nine and I had to do what I needed to. I was really pleased and Ben, my caddie, has been brilliant. We’re really getting somewhere and we’re really working well together.
“My friend Kiera lives really near here. I always drive past the gates (of Wentworth). It’s really cool to win and it’s only an hour or so from my house. I had my dad and a few uncles here, so that was cool.
“Over that putt on the last…my cousin passed away three years ago. He was a professional rugby player, made his debut and then passed away that night. I just do this for him – we both used to motivate each other and over that putt, that’s who I was thinking of. It went right in the middle. I treasure the shots I get to hit and I do it for the people I love.”
Popert is one of three players already confirmed for the G4D Tour Series Finale @ DP World Tour Championship, and will be joined in the field by Browne, who won G4D @ Horizon Irish Open, and Italy’s Tommaso Perrino, who won G4D @ ISPS HANDA World Invitational presented by AVIV Clinics.
The winner of the next event, G4D @ Estrella Damm N.A. Andalucía Masters, will also join them in the field, with the remaining six spots spots allocated based on performances during the inaugural G4D Tour season, which should guarantee Lawlor’s place in the field.
- Full scoring HERE
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