Victor Dubuisson takes one-shot victory at Turkish Airlines Open
Tuesday 3 November 2015 11:55, UK
Victor Dubuisson broke down in tears after producing a brilliant finish to win the Turkish Airlines Open for the second time in three years, as Rory McIlroy's challenge fizzled out in Antalya.
Dubuisson played his last eight holes in five under par to card a closing 66 and finish one ahead of South Africa's Jaco Van Zyl, while world No 3 McIlroy ended in a tie for sixth after a frustrating final round 71.
The Frenchman, whose sole win to date came in the inaugural staging of this event in 2013, had carded three birdies in the first four holes, only to lie three strokes off the pace after running up a double bogey on the fifth and also drop a shot on the seventh.
Dubuisson followed a birdie at the ninth with an amazing par at the next by pitching through a gap in the trees after taking a penalty drop from a bush, before moving within one of the lead thanks to a chip-in eagle at the 11th.
Birdies at the 15th and 17th moved Dubuisson in to a share of the lead with Jaco Van Zyl, before a two-putt birdie from ten feet at the last secured him victory.
"I love this place, the way I played today was just great," Dubuisson told Sky Sports 4. "Especially after the mistake I made on the fifth and then you're thinking the tournament has gone.
"I was really counting on the Final Series to give me my confidence back because I really lost a few months ago.
"On the greens I was just missing everything and you feel like your game is never going to come back, but this week I realised my game is still there."
McIlroy began the final day just one shot off the lead after three consecutive 67's, but lost ground in his pursuit of a fourth win of 2015 with back-to-back blemishes at the eighth and ninth.
Kiradech Aphibarnrat made a blistering start with four consecutive birdies, but a run of pars along the back nine left him two strokes back, with Byeong Hun An a further stroke off the pace.
European Tour Golf
A bogey-free 66 saw Shane Lowry end the week in the top ten ahead of Lee Slattery, while Danny Willett and Lee Westwood finished in the group on 12 under.
Graeme Storm's round-of-the-day 63 parachuted him in to the tie for 20th, with recent British Masters champion Matthew Fitzpatrick's level-par 72 leaving him 14 shots back at seven under.
