Denmark’s Nicolai Hojgaard secured the biggest win of his career with a two-shot victory at the DP World Tour Championship in Dubai. The 22-year-old’s third DP World title and maiden Rolex Series success came at the season-ending event. Hojgaard buried six birdies over the closing back nine to fire a final round 8-under 64 and overcome his Ryder Cup team-mates Tommy Fleetwood and Viktor Hovland plus overnight leader Matt Wallace. Rory McIlroy collected the Race to Dubai honours for the fifth time in his career. England’s Mike Browne scored victory at the G4D Tour @ DP World Tour Championship in Dubai.
Hojgaard led the field after days one and two with rounds of 67 and 66 at Jumeirah Golf Estates. The young Dane then posted a 2-under 70 on Saturday to fall three shots off the pace. On Sunday, Hojgaard produced four unanswered birdies during the opening 10 holes to regain the lead. And, then held off all challengers with a stunning finish that included peeling off five consecutive birdies from the 13th hole to reach 21-under. He finished the 2023 DP World Tour’s Race to Dubai season second behind champion McIlroy. Hojgaard will enter the top 50 in the world rankings for the first time.
England pair Wallace and Fleetwood took a share of second place with Norway’s Hovland at 19-under. Wallace fired a career-best 12-under 60 on Saturday to lead the field after 54 holes by one shot. The incredible round included birdieing every hole on the back nine for a nine-hole total of just 27 shots. Wallace signed for a 3-under 69 final round. Fleetwood and Hovland both carded 4-under 68 on Sunday.
Spain’s Jon Rahm finished in a tie for fifth place at 17-under after his final round 6-under 66. The former world No. 1 was joined on that mark by South Africa’s Thriston Lawrence and France’s Matthieu Pavon.
Min Woo Lee was the best-placed Australian at the season-ending event finishing in a tie for 15th place at 13-under.
McIlroy produced a 2-under 70 to get to 10-under and finish in a tie for 22nd place. The Northern Irishman had already secured the Race to Dubai title with one week to spare after earning two Rolex Series victories plus three top 10s in major championships this year. McIlroy is now third on the all-time list of season-ending champions with one win short of the late Seve Ballesteros and three victories behind Colin Montgomerie.
Browne, a 45-year-old leg-amputee, won the season-ending G4D Tour @ DP World Tour Championship event by three shots over fellow Englishman Kipp Popert, Ireland’s Brendan Lawlor and Canada’s Kurtis Barkley. It was his second G4D Tour title after winning the G4D Tour @ Horizon Irish Open in June last year. Browne fired a 1-under 71 opening round and was crowned the winner when play was cancelled on Friday at Jumeirah Golf Estates, reducing the contest to 18 holes.
The DP World Tour kicks off its 2024 season next week with events in Australia and South Africa with the Fortinet Australian PGA Championship and Joburg Open.
Final Scores
DP World Championship
1. Nicolai Hojgaard -21
T2. Tommy Fleetwood -19
T2. Viktor Hovland -19
T2. Matt Wallace -19
T5. Thriston Lawrence -17
T5. Matthieu Pavon -17
T5. Jon Rahm -17
Australians
T15. Min Woo Lee -13
T38. Lucas Herbert -4
Photo credit: Andrew Redington/Getty Images
