Pieters gives Captain Clarke a big nudge with Danish win

European Tour: Made in Denmark – Thomas Pieters

Pieters needed to win his last two qualifying events to make the Ryder Cup team; he managed second at the Czech Masters and then won here in Denmark.

The Belgian birdied his last three holes to pip Bradley Dredge by a shot, his third win on Tour. His first two rounds were played with the captain Darren Clarke and he was up to the challenge, shooting 62-71.

After a four-hour weather delay Pieters almost holed out at the short 16^th, pitched stone dead at the next and then signed off with an 8-iron to six feet.

For Dredge, it was a second runner-up finish at this event after he lost out to Marc Warren in 2014, and he finished a shot ahead of Adrian Otaegui and David Lipsky.

When Pieters almost aced the 16^th there was a four-way tie for the lead with Lipsky, Dredge and Joakim Lagergren. The Swede then matched Pieters’ birdie at 17 but they had very different closing holes.

Lagergren lost his ball and made a seven while Pieters completed his hat-trick. Dredge then rolled in a huge putt to grab second.

What Pieters said: “I saw I was one back walking to the green on 16 and I hit a great shot there but I knew I needed to make at least one more. To finish with two more birdies was pretty cool.

“It’s all about winning tournaments. I’m really happy with this one. That was one of my goals, to just have one every year, just so you know you’re improving and you can win. He (Clarke) has got plenty of good players to pick from, so if he doesn’t pick me, then so be it and I’ll work my butt off to get there in the next one. But I’ve done all I can now and I’m just really pleased with this win to be honest.”

Inches. https://t.co/iq8r24Fi7X

— The European Tour (@EuropeanTour) August 28, 2016

PGA Tour: The Barclays – Patrick Reed

Reed booked his place on Davis Love’s team with his first win since January 2015. He eventually finished a shot ahead of Sean O’Hair and Emiliano Grillo though it was a nervy finish with two bogeys in the last three holes, playing partner Rickie Fowler (74) slipped back to seventh after another poor Sunday showing.

Reed did his damage with three birdies in four holes from the 4^th onwards including a chip-in at the 5^th.

Fowler failed to convert a 54-hole lead on the PGA Tour for the fourth time, he had just dropped one shot in his first 64 holes.

He will now need a pick (which he will get) with Love naming three wild cards on September 11 and the final one a fortnight later.

Reed was the US top scorer with three-and-a-half points from four matches at Gleneagles in 2014.

What Reed said: “I have not had that feeling in a while coming down the last couple of holes. I felt like I did a lot of things well, although it was not the scores I wanted on the last few holes, but it was nice to win.”

“I’m so glad (about the Ryder Cup). It was a huge goal to get back played having played so well my first time, but unfortunately the cup didn’t come back with us. (Hoping for) sweet revenge and hopefully the cup comes back home.”

Patrick Reed makes back-to-back birdies … in style.

He's 1 back.#QuickHits https://t.co/dGXqc07x8y

— PGA TOUR (@PGATOUR) August 28, 2016

Challenge Tour: Bridgestone Challenge – Thomas Detry

Pieters’ close friend and fellow University of Illinois graduate Detry also had a day to remember, winning by 12 shots at Heythrop Park to match the Challenge Tour’s lowest under par score of 29 under.

He also broke the record for the largest winning margin on the Tour, which was previously set at 10 shots by Brooks Koepka in 2013.

The 23-year-old shot 60 on day one and bookended his week with a 63 which included 11 birdies and a double.

What Detry said: “I talked to my caddie earlier today and I said ‘this is what I play golf for’. This is what drives me to play golf. There is no point in being nervous and being under pressure, just go out there and enjoy yourself.

“I started off the day with a birdie, that was great, then I had a very stupid double on hole number three but I didn’t let that affect me. I carried on with four birdies in a row and from there on I just let it roll.

“It is amazing. Last night we (he and Pieters) were texting each other saying ‘let’s do this, let’s win this for us, for our coach back home and our coach back in the United States’.”

Thomas Detry

European Senior Tour: Willow Senior Golf Classic – Gary Marks

On just his 17^th start Marks picked up his first win on the Senior Tour after seeing a seven-shot lead on the back nine finish with a two-shot victory over Mike Harwood of Australia.

James Kingston, playing with Marks, got within three when Marks doubled 13 and bogeyed 15 but then Harwood finished strongly to slip into second.

Marks’ previous best finish this season was a tie for 18^th in Wales, this victory gives him over 60,000 Euros.

What Marks said: “It’s the greatest day of my golfing life. I had a seven-shot lead with the back nine to play, then it suddenly got quite difficult. I had a penalty stroke and started to lose my swing a bit, it was quite tough getting over the finishing line.

“I had a four or five-shot lead, but then I had another bogey after that and in your mind you start seeing things unravel, you start seeing ridiculous things. In the end, I hit enough decent shots to cross the line.”

Gary Marks