Turkish Open: Tyrrell Hatton wins six-man play-off

England's Tyrrell Hatton has won the Turkish Open at the fourth extra hole following a dramatic six-man play-off.

They finished under floodlights after six players tied on 20 under par.

American Kurt Kitayama was knocked out after three holes while French duo Benjamin Hebert and Victor Perez and South Africa's Erik van Rooyen were eliminated at the first extra hole.

It was an incredible afternoon at the Montgomerie Maxx Royal course which ended with the first six-man play-off on the European Tour since 2003.

And it needed four goes at the 18th hole, a par five of 558 yards to decide the outcome.

Kitayama and Schwab made birdies the first time they played it and it needed a brilliant chip-in from off the green to keep Hatton alive, as the other three were knocked out.

The American had originally set the clubhouse target at 20 under, after shooting nine birdies in an eight-under 64, the joint-lowest round of the day.

The 26-year-old from California looked on course for his third European Tour win of the season as he stood over a short birdie chance at the second extra hole but his effort shaved the cup.

And his par was not enough next time as Schwab sank a brilliant putt to match Hatton's birdie.

But there was to be no maiden win for the 24-year-old Austrian as he missed a short par putt on the fourth playing of the 18th to hand Hatton victory.

It was Hatton's fourth European Tour title and his first since winning the Italian Open in October 2017.

He takes a first prize of $2m (£1.56m) and jumps up to sixth in the Race to Dubai standings with only two events of the season remaining.

He has also made sure of finishing the year inside the world's top 50, which will guarantee his invitation for the Masters at Augusta National in April.

"I can't believe I've won," he told Sky Sports. "It's been quite a difficult year with some things off the course but I really found my game in the last month.

"It's easy to take things for granted in sport but it hits home when it's not going well.

"I said I would really savour it if I won again and I will. I'm absolutely thrilled."

Source: BBC News

Powered by NewsAPI.org

Keywords:

Turkish Open • Tyrrell Hatton • England • Tyrrell Hatton • Turkish Open • France • Benjamin Hebert • Victor Perez • South Africa • PGA European Tour • Par (score) • Par (score) • California • Golf course • PGA European Tour • Par (score) • Tyrrell Hatton • Tyrrell Hatton • Tyrrell Hatton • PGA European Tour • Italian Open (golf) • Pound sterling • PGA European Tour • Augusta National Golf Club • Sky Sports •