Hojgaard mixed two eagle and three birdies with a bogey and a double-bogey during an incredible final day; Dane finished four shots clear of England's Jordan Smith to claim a second DP World Tour title
Sunday 6 February 2022 14:14, UK
Nicolai Hojgaard secured a second DP World Tour title after recovering from throwing away a five-shot lead to win the Ras al Khaimah Championship.
Nicolai Hojgaard secured a second DP World Tour title after recovering from throwing away a five-shot lead to win the Ras al Khaimah Championship.
The world No 100 carded a four-under 68 on the final day at Al Hamra Golf Club, seeing him end the week on 24 under and pull clear of closest challenger Jordan Smith.
"It's been such a tough grind today," Hojgaard said. "I got off to a good start and then I struggled quite a bit. I had to dig deep out there, the turning point was on 13 where I saw Jordan Smith made a run and was two up and I stepped up with a clutch finish so I'm really happy.
"I was thinking that I was throwing the tournament away when I made double-bogey and then bogey on 12, I had to dig deep and my good friend Kristin on the bag did a brilliant job keeping me focused and motivated for the finish and it turned out pretty good."
Hojgaard took a three-shot lead into the final day and extended his leave to five when he fired an incredible approach from the rough at the par-five third to tap-in range and made an eagle.
The Dane three-putted from 20 feet to double-bogey the ninth and found himself two behind when he bogeyed the 12th, having taken a drop after a wayward drive, as Smith surged ahead after following a front-nine 32 with three consecutive birdies from the 12th.
Hojgaard drove the par-four 13th green and made birdie before producing another amazing eagle at the 14th, rolling in from 10 feet having found sand off the tee on the par-five, while Smith lost ground when he failed to get up and down to save par at the par-three 15th.
Scotland's Law was briefly within one of the lead after bouncing back from a bogey at the second to birdie the fourth and hole a 30-foot eagle at the driveable fifth, only to fall out of contention with three consecutive bogeys from the 11th and another dropped shot at the 16th.
Smith was unable to add any further birdies along the closing stretch, seeing him set the clubhouse target at 20 under, only for Hojgaard to roll in a 15-footer at the 17th and add another birdie at the par-five last to see out a convincing win in style.
"A couple short unfortunately but happy overall," Smith said. "Disappointed with the last couple of holes, missing those couple of greens, but overall really happy."
A round-of-the-day 63 lifted Haotong Li into tied-third alongside Adrian Otaegui, Matthieu Pavon and Lukas Nemecz, with Law in a share of seventh on 16 under alongside Tapio Pulkkanen.
Victory is Hojgaard's second in 10 appearances on the DP World Tour, following on from his breakthrough win at the Italian Open in September, with the run of results also including a tied runner-up at the Portugal Masters and tied for fourth at the season-ending DP World Tour Championship.
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