Aidan Grenham enjoyed an impressive podium finish on his first ever G4D start as David Watts claimed his maiden ‘W’ on the Tour after a thrilling final round battle with World Number One Kipp Popert at the G4D Tour @ Singapore Classic.
Ballinasloe’s Grenham took to the G4D fold like a duck to water, signing off with a one-under par round of 71 for a one-over tally and outright third place.
Grenham made the turn in just 32 shots on Tuesday with three birdies in a bogey-free outward half before carding three bogeys and just the one birdie on his homeward nine.
The big-hitting Irish international posted an eagle and eight birdies for his two days at Laguna National Golf Resort Club in a brilliant first introduction to the G4D that saw him finish two places ahead of Irish teammate Conor Stone who posted rounds of 76 and 79 for a nine-over tally.
The week belonged to South African Watts who carded a three-under par final round of 69 after rallying on the back nine with three birdies on his final four holes to win by three strokes.
Watts started the day with a one-stroke lead but had to fight back after Popert move ahead on the front nine as he searched for a sixth G4D Tour title, with the Englishman making the turn with a one-stroke advantage. But Watts drew level and then regained the lead after consecutive birdies on the 15th and 16th holes.
He then took a three-stroke cushion down the 18th after Popert found the water on the tricky par three 17th, with the pair each carding a birdie on the final hole as Watts signed for a five under par total, claiming his first G4D Tour title on his fifth start.
“It’s hard to put into words, it’s a bit of a surreal feeling. I’m delighted to get it over the line,” said Watts. “I got off to a bit of a nervy start, sleeping on a lead and Kipp got off to a strong start. I hung around, did what I could do to get the ball in the hole and then started playing nicely towards the back nine.
“I rolled in a few putts and got a few birdies down the stretch, three birdies on the last four holes always helps in a round of golf. I had a great battle with a terrific player. To finish this off and come away with the trophy, I couldn’t be happier.
“I’ve learnt in golf never to touch the money. I stuck to my own game, tried to put it down the fairway on 18, which I did. Knocked it by the green and somehow got it up and down.
“It’s a lot of hours of practice and training. In golf, you’re not accountable to anyone like you are in a team sport. You’ve got to have self-discipline and you’ve got to make sacrifices. This is your reward for it. To have that moment on 18 is something I will have with me for the rest of my life.”
The G4D Tour will return to action from May 10-12 with the inaugural G4D Open at Woburn Golf Club, announced earlier this month by The R&A and the DP World Tour.
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