Great Dane Hojgaard Lands Second Title of Season at The Belfry

Rasmus Hojgaard won the UK Championship at The Belfry, defeating Justin Walters in a playoff after both men finished tied on 14 under par. He becomes only the second player to have won twice as a teenager. In the process. The 19-year-old Dane also pipped Sam Horsfield to the UK Swing Order of Merit - and all of this in what is turning out to be an incredible rookie season.

On a dramatic final day, Hojgaard came from five strokes back to finish level with Walters on 14 under par.

When they went to extra holes, Hojgaard held his nerve with consecutive pars down the 18th, with his South African opponent making a bogey on the second trip back down the last after hitting his approach from a bunker.

Hojgaard won in Mauritius and joins Italy's Matteo Manassero as the only golfers to have captured two titles before turning 20.

“I was a bit surprised that I ended up in a play-off, but it was fun out there,” said Hojgaard. “It’s hard to describe. It’s obviously an amazing feeling to get the wins. It happened really quick. I’m kind of lost for words right now, but it’s an amazing feeling.”

Hojgaard went to the turn in 33 – an approach to within five feet at the sixth the highlight of his three birdies – and added another birdie at the 10th.

However, an errant tee shot on the 11th saw him miss the green and fail to get up and down.

That appeared to leave Walters and Germany's two-time major champion Martin Kaymer battling for the title, but in a remarkable finish Hojgaard birdied the 14th and 16th and eagled the par five 17th to complete a round of 65.

Rasmus Højgaard's rookie season:

12 starts
2 wins ????
1 runner-up
3 other Top 10s#ISPSHANDAUKChampionship pic.twitter.com/C2DdnunZOh

— The European Tour (@EuropeanTour) August 30, 2020

Walters was two shots clear of Kaymer and Benjamin Hebert at the start of the day but, having saved par from a bunker at the first, bogeyed the second after a wild drive finished the wrong side of a thicket of trees. The 39-year-old South African battled back with a hat-trick of birdies that took him clear again.

Kaymer lipped out for birdie on the eighth and 12th and for eagle on the 15th. However, four birdies had seemingly put Kaymer winner on course for a first victory in six years before he bogeyed the 17th.

Walters suffered a triple-bogey on the eighth after driving into a construction yard and then three-putting, but recovered with four further birdies in his round of 70.

He and Hojgaard finished a shot clear of Kaymer, who missed a10-foot birdie chance at the last in his 69, and Hebert, who holed a spectacular approach for eagle at the sixth along with three bogeys and four birdies. Bernd Wiesberger chipped in at the last for a 65 which was matched by Scotland's Craig Howie as they shared fifth place on 12 under.

Rasmus' WITB

• M5 9.0 Driver | Tensei Blue 65 TX
• SIM Max 15.0 Fairway | GD DI 7 X
• SIM Max 19.0 Rescue | Aldila Rogue Black 95 X
• P•770 4 Iron | KBS C-Taper 125 X
• P•7MC 5-PW | KBS C-Taper 125 X
• MG Hi-Toe Wedges 52, 56 and 60 | KBS Custom Tour Black S
• TP Patina Ardmore Putter
• TP5 Golf Ball