Hend survives first play-off of the season to end title drought
Maybank Championship report: What happened at Saujana Golf Club?
The 45-year-old Scott Hend put in a spectacular Sunday performance to snatch victory from 54-hole leader Nacho Elvira.
It's been a serious Sunday charge from @hendygolf.#MaybankChampionship pic.twitter.com/Q0dNwP5Nlo
— The European Tour (@EuropeanTour) March 24, 2019
After nine holes, Hend had made his move and was sitting pretty at the top of the leaderboard, but a lengthy weather delay on the 18th green changed things.
Final leaderboard
With both players on the green, Elvira needed to hole a long putt for birdie to be in with any chance of a play-off, and he obliged.
CAN YOU BELIEVE THAT!!@nachoelvira87 has drained it! pic.twitter.com/O1lfYU5FHQ
— The European Tour (@EuropeanTour) March 24, 2019
Just the one extra hole was needed and despite hitting two trees, Hend was able to make birdie to claim the title.
This was the first European Tour play-off of the season and Hend’s second win on tour through a play-off.
Maybank Championship report: Talking points
Five-time European Tour champion Mikko Ilonen announced this week that he was stepping away from his professional golfing career to focus on family life.
The most successful Fin in the sport’s history will bow out at the age of 39, and with almost 400 tour starts to his name, nobody can criticise the decision.
One of golf’s nice guys, we wish him all the best.
Hend gets creative
Golfers don’t tend to play many trick-shots in tournament play, but Scott Hend didn’t get that memo.
Finding his ball in a tricky position, Hend decided to hit his shot over the green and bounce it back off the stands, and it worked out perfectly.
He meant that! Off the backboard.
Amazing creativity from @hendygolf. pic.twitter.com/MNlxGl1BS5
— The European Tour (@EuropeanTour) March 23, 2019
Golfers get behind development
On Saturday many of the field sported the colour yellow in support of golf development in Malaysia, where the tournament was being held.
It was great to see so many of the field doing their bit for a good cause once more.
.@ThongchaiJaidee and other players are yellow today in support of golf development in Malaysia. Find out more about Shaaban Hussin and his junior golf development programmes at https://t.co/GT6hUkIkik #MaybankChampionship #WhereTheBestMeet pic.twitter.com/hcDAuuh1Is
— Maybank (@MyMaybank) March 23, 2019
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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.
