Victor Dubuisson wins Turkish Airlines Open

Victor Dubuisson held off a stellar chasing pack to claim a maiden European Tour title in the inaugural Turkish Airlines Open at the Montgomerie Maxx Royal in Antalya

Victor Dubuisson

Victor Dubuisson wins Turkish Airlines Open

Victor Dubuisson held off a stellar chasing pack to claim a maiden European Tour title in the inaugural Turkish Airlines Open at the Montgomerie Maxx Royal in Antalya.

The 23-year-old from Cannes birdied three of his final four holes for a closing 69 and a 24-under-par 72-hole total, two shots clear of Jamie Donaldson.

Dubuisson started the final round five shots clear after firing a flawless Saturday 63, but nine consecutive pars on the front nine saw his lead trimmed to two shots.

He birdied the 10th, but a bogey four at the par-3 14th, coupled with a Jamie Donaldson hole-in-one at the 16th, wiped out his lead.

Moments later, Justin Rose birdied 16 and 17 to propel himself into a three-way tie atop the leaderboard.

The Frenchman edged ahead with a tap-in birdie at 15, but Donaldson two-puttted the par-5 18th to set the clubhouse target on 22-under-par.

Dubuisson wasn't phased, though, and he drained a 25-footer on the 17th green to move one clear and casually birdied the 18th to complete a fine two-shot victory.

"I don't know how to describe it. Now I don't realise what's happening. I felt so much pressure on the last hole," he said.

"Holing that putt on 17 was incredible, it was incredible. It was the longest day on the course that I've ever had. I'm very proud of what I did."

Rose finished in a tie for third alongside Tiger Woods, narrowing the gap on Henrik Stenson in the Race to Dubai standings to less than 214,000 points ahead of the season-ending DP World Tour Championship. Turkish Airlines Open Montgomerie Maxx Royal GC, Antalya, Turkey November 7-10, purse $7,000,000, par 72 1) Victor Dubuisson (FRA) 67-65-63-69 = 264 2) Jamie Donaldson (WAL) 68-67-68-63 = 266 T3) Justin Rose (ENG) 70-66-67-65 = 268 T3) Tiger Woods (USA) 70-63-68-67 = 268 T5) Ian Poulter (ENG) 66-66-68-69 = 269 T5) Raphael Jacquelin (FRA) 67-72-62-68 = 269 T7) Bernd Wiesberger (AUT) 68-72-66-64 = 270 T7) Marc Warren (SCO) 69-70-66-65 = 270 T7) Henrik Stenson (SWE) 64-68-69-69 = 270

Bold signifies Titleist golf ball usage

 

Nick Bonfield
Features Editor

Nick Bonfield joined Golf Monthly in 2012 after graduating from Exeter University and earning an NCTJ-accredited journalism diploma from News Associates in Wimbledon. He is responsible for managing production of the magazine, sub-editing, writing, commissioning and coordinating all features across print and online. Most of his online work is opinion-based and typically centres around the Majors and significant events in the global golfing calendar. Nick has been an avid golf fan since the age of ten and became obsessed with the professional game after watching Mike Weir and Shaun Micheel win The Masters and PGA Championship respectively in 2003. In his time with Golf Monthly, he's interviewed the likes of Rory McIlroy, Justin Rose, Jose Maria Olazabal, Henrik Stenson, Padraig Harrington, Lee Westwood and Billy Horschel and has ghost-written columns for Westwood, Wayne Riley, Matthew Southgate, Chris Wood and Eddie Pepperell. Nick is a 12-handicap golfer and his favourite courses include Old Head, Sunningdale New, Penha Longha, Valderrama and Bearwood Lakes. If you have a feature pitch for Nick, please email nick.bonfield@futurenet.com with 'Pitch' in the subject line. Nick is currently playing: Driver: TaylorMade M1 Fairway wood: TaylorMade RBZ Stage 2 Hybrid: Ping Crossover Irons (4-9): Nike Vapor Speed Wedges: Cleveland CBX Full Face, 56˚, Titleist Vokey SM4, 60˚ Putter: testing in progress! Ball: TaylorMade TP5x