Harding’s fine form pays off at Qatar Masters
What happened at the Qatar Masters?
Justin Harding has been one of the most consistent players on tour this season and has proved that the desert conditions suit his game.
A stunning final round of 66 saw him get over the line and move ahead of a whole host of players bunched on 11-under-par.
Qatar Masters Final Leaderboard
The South African carded a bogey-free back-nine which included five birdies to put the pressure on those still out on the course.
Having signed for his card, Harding was in for an agonising wait to see if he would finish the week on top.
Waiting for your first European Tour win… pic.twitter.com/KRqaZgB9Ru
— The European Tour (@EuropeanTour) March 10, 2019
He said: “I said the first guy in might have a good chance and we’ll see what happens. Once Choi posted 11-under it was a case of getting to that and potentially beating it.
“So, we’ll see what happens, it’s going to be an interesting 45 minutes.”
The likes of George Coetzee, Jorge Campillo and Nacho Elvira all gave it their best but weren’t able to reel in the leader.
Jinho Choi had set the clubhouse lead at that score after shooting the low-round of the day with a 64, but that proved to be just too little too late.
Low round of the day. Clubhouse leader ?? pic.twitter.com/XNwO7oGn8A
— The European Tour (@EuropeanTour) March 10, 2019
England’s Oliver Wilson held a one-shot lead going into the final day but was unable to get anything going on Sunday and finished on 11-under, one better than where he began.
The win for Justin Harding has been coming for some time now and it’s brilliant to see yet another first-time winner on the European Tour.
Talking Points
The most recent edition of the European Tour’s Player Blog featured South African Christiaan Bezuidenhout.
This feature has often provided a rare insight into the minds and lives of various tour professionals, but this one was packed with some particularly striking stories.
? "When I was 8 I took a drink thinking it was cola – it was actually rat poison. It was a moment which would change my life forever."https://t.co/Igp4TLGFmY
— The European Tour (@EuropeanTour) March 6, 2019
The 24-year-old told of how accidentally drinking rat poison as a child has had a lasting effect on his life and how he struggled with a suspension from the game.
It’s not too often that we hear players speak so honestly and openly about their tougher life experiences, so we really recommend you give this one a read.
Another point
On a slightly different note, Deyen Lawson experienced some hole-in-one elation on the course for the second time this season.
Perfect. In every single way ?#QatarMasters pic.twitter.com/zbv2tzITY0
— The European Tour (@EuropeanTour) March 8, 2019
The Australian holed out with his eight-iron on the par-3 17thin Friday’s second round, which was the same club he used for the first ace of his season.
Second hole in one this season, with the same club! ⛳
Deyen Lawson's 8 iron is serving him well. pic.twitter.com/BXVEQJTHSQ
— The European Tour (@EuropeanTour) March 8, 2019
Everybody has their favourite club and we think this might just be his.
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Joe Hughes
Tour editor covering men's golf, women's golf and anything else that involves the word golf, really. The talk is far better than the game, but the work has begun to change that.
