The Star Malaysia

Gavin shows he’s on the way to becoming title contender again.

Malaysian No. 1 finishes joint eighth at Wales Open

- By TAN MING WAI

It’s just a matter of time before Gavin Kyle Green becomes a title contender again on the European Tour title. The 29-year old showed that his strong 2020 form was no fluke with a fine show at the Wales Open.

The 26-year-old carded a 69 on Sunday to finish in a tie for eighth, five shots behind winner Frenchman Romain Langasque who finished at eight-under 276 for the tournament.

Starting the day on joint-11th, Gavin made his move early with a birdie in the opening hole before adding another on the sixth.

Gavin bogeyed the 10th for his only dropped shot of the day, but confidentl­y redeemed it on the 12th – a hole he also birdied on the first and third days – to give himself a €17,712 (RM87,400) payday.

It was Gavin’s second top-10 finish of the 2020 season, and ninth overall in his European Tour career. His other top-10 outing was when he came in joint-third at the Saudi Internatio­nal in February.

Gavin has been performing consistent­ly since he started the season with a tied-15 finish at the South African Open.

Except for missing the cut on his first action since the Covid-19 at the English Championsh­ip, Gavin has fared not worse than a 27th placing in his other eight appearance­s of the season.

His Wales Open effort has moved him up to 28th in the season-long Race to Dubai standings, putting him on the right track to qualify for the 50-man lucrative US$8mil (RM33.42mil) season-ending Tour Championsh­ip in Dubai from Dec 10-13.

He was 69th last year.

Gavin will now be hoping to translate his consistent form into a victory and etch his name in the history books as the first Malaysian to achieve the feat on the European Tour. The closest ever Gavin got to winning on the European Tour was when he finished runner-up at the Indian Open in 2017.

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 ?? — AP ?? In focus: Gavin Green lining up his putt on the fourth green in the final round of the Wales Open at Celtic Manor Resort in Newport, Wales.
— AP In focus: Gavin Green lining up his putt on the fourth green in the final round of the Wales Open at Celtic Manor Resort in Newport, Wales.
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