DP World Tour: Mallorca Golf Open final Results
Rookie Yannik Paul claimed his maiden DP World Tour title in dramatic fashion after holing his clutch birdie putt at the 18th to win the 2022 Mallorca Golf Open by a single shot.
On an afternoon of twists and turns, overnight co-leader Paul had been in the driving seat on the back nine before a two-shot swing at the 15th handed his playing partner Marcus Armitage a two-stroke lead with three holes to play.
But as Armitage dropped three shots over the next two holes including a double bogey 7 after driving out of bounds on the 17th, Paul saved par at the at the same hole to find himself tied for the lead as he made his way to the 18th.
And the German coolly slotted in his difficult 15-foot birdie try from the fringe at the last to deny Paul Waring and Nicolai von Dellingshausen a play-off.
Paul made three birdies and four bogeys on a tricky afternoon for scoring at Son Muntaner Golf Club, finishing the tournament on 15 under par to enter the winner's circle for the first time in his 26th DP World Tour appearance.
Fellow German Von Dellingshausen and Englishman Waring finished in a tie for second one shot back, with Von Dellingshausen jumping up 44 places to 77th on the DP World Tour Rankings in Partnership with Rolex.
Ryan Fox is up to second on the Rankings, overtaking Matt Fitzpatrick, after the New Zealander finished in a share of fourth on 13 under alongside Dale Whitnell.
Armitage was in a three-way tie for sixth another shot further back, along with last year's champion Jeff Winther and Jazz Janewattananond.
Paul said: "I'm speechless, honestly, I'm just so happy. "My girlfriend and I, we worked a lot on my mental side and we were dreaming that she would be here for my first win, and she's here now, it's unbelievable.
"It was really hard today. My ball-striking was unbelievable all week. I hit it really close at the first couple of holes and couldn't make any putts.
"So that was really hard to just stay in the moment. But luckily none of the other guys really made a lot of putts.
"I saw after nine holes that I was in the lead and then Marcus obviously hit a great shot on 15 and holed a great putt so I was two shots away and I thought 'OK, now it's going to get close'.
"I couldn't have dreamt of a better ending so I'm over the moon."
As I posted earlier today Canada's Aaron Cockerill who finished T58 -2 is projected to finish the year #112 to secure his DP World Tour card, with the top 117 getting their DP World Tour status for 2023.
He told the KNGDOM Podcast earlier last week that he has no status for the regular season ending Portugal Masters next week.
Bryan Angus
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