Turkish Airlines Open

Turkish Airlines Open

Turkish Airlines Open
Antalya, Turkey
Winner: Tyrrell Hatton

Thanks goodness for the floodlights at the Montgomerie Maxx Royal that allowed the third ever six-way playoff on the European Tour to conclude at the fourth extra hole. Tyrrell Hatton was left in the spotlight as the winner at the Turkish Airlines Open after Matthias Schwab missed from four feet for a par to continue the drama. Moments earlier Hatton had been shocked to miss from a couple of feet further away for a birdie. By birdieing the 18th in regulation play and then chipping in to stay alive on the first playoff hole, Hatton more than deserved this fourth victory and second Rolex Series title.

A wrist injury that has dogged the 28-year-old Englishman for a couple of years would require surgery in the winter. “It’s so surreal,” Hatton said. “I actually can’t believe that I’ve won. It’s been quite a difficult year in terms of things happening off course, though, the last month, I feel like I really found my game again. I said to a few people on my team that if I was lucky enough to win again, then I would definitely savor the moment.”

With a $2 million first prize, there was the little matter of $1.5 million resting on the outcome of the playoff. It was a particularly cruel defeat for Schwab. The 24-year-old Austrian, only in his second year on tour, had led from start to finish, taking a three-shot lead into the final round when he scored 70. His bogey at the fourth playoff hole was his first in 24 attempts at a par-five hole during the week.

Erik van Rooyen eagled the last to make the playoff but exited on the first extra hole along with Benjamin Hebert and Victor Perez. American Kurt Kitayama closed with a 64 and then birdied the first extra hole but dropped out when Hatton and Schwab birdied the third extra hole. Hatton had rounds of 68, 68, 65 and 67 for a 20-under-par total of 268.