Harding wins Qatar Masters
SOUTH AFRICA’S Justin Harding birdied three of his last four holes to claim a first European Tour win at the Commercial Bank Qatar Masters yesterday.
For his efforts, Harding, banked R4.2million for first place.
He arrived at Doha Golf Club without full playing privileges after finishing third on last season’s Asian Tour, but now has his breakthrough in his 54th European Tour start.
Harding made three early birdies to share the lead but his chance looked to have gone as he made two bogeys and South Korea’s Jinho Joi signed for a brilliant 64 to set the clubhouse target at 11-under. Birdies on the 10th and 12th put him back in contention and further gains on the 15th, 17th and 18th handed him a two-shot lead at 13-under after a 66.
He faced a nervous wait as the final groups finished up but nobody could catch him, with countrymen Christiaan Bezuidenhout, George Coetzee and Erik van Rooyen, Spaniards Jorge Campillo and Nacho Elvira, Swede Anton Karlsson, Frenchman Mike Lorenzo-Vera, England’s Oliver Wilson and Choi in a European Tour record nine-way tie for second.
The victory is a fifth in nine months and four different countries for the 33-year-old after he claimed back-to-back Sunshine Tour wins in May and repeated the feat on the Asian Tour in July. He becomes the fifth South African winner of this event after Darren Fichardt, Ernie Els, Retief Goosen and Branden Grace – who successfully defended the Mother of Pearl trophy in 2016.
“It feels good,” said Harding, who had two top-fives and three further top-20s from eight events coming into this week. “It was nerve wracking, especially coming off, it’s a situation I haven’t really been in. I didn’t enjoy it but it’s good fun, I’m glad it happened and now we move on. | CANADIAN teenager Felix Auger-Aliassime won a battle of young guns by beating ninth seed Stefanos Tsitsipas 6-4 6-2 on Saturday to advance to the third round of the Indian Wells Masters.
The 18-year-old, the youngest player in the world top 100, fired an unreturnable serve on match point to take down the 20-year-old Greek – the youngest player in the top 10.
While the outcome was an upset on paper, Auger-Aliassime held a 3-0 advantage over Tsitsipas when they met as juniors.
“I didn’t know what to expect today because he’s a completely different player (now),” said Auger-Aliassime after their morning match.
“I believe in myself. I thought I had my chances. I served really well today, so that was obviously a big key.”
World number one Novak Djokovic picked up steam during his second-round match against American Bjorn Fratangelo under the lights on the stadium court as he goes in search of his 74th ATP title.
Djokovic sprinted over to the stands to shake hands with his idol, 14-time grand slam champion Pete Sampras, immediately after the 7-6(5) 6-2 win. | VENUS WILLIAMS fought back to down third seed Petra Kvitova 4-6 7-5 6-4 and reach the Indian Wells Masters third round on Saturday, while Naomi Osaka got her title defence off to a flying start with a straight sets win over Kristina Mladenovic.
World number one Osaka beat Mladenovic 6-3 6-4, the win under the stadium court lights sweet revenge for the reigning US and Australian Open champion after she lost to the same opponent in the Dubai Tennis Championships first round last month.
Osaka said it was the first time she had felt the pressure of defending a title.
“I’ve never been a defending champion before so I was pretty nervous and I’m glad I got the win,” the Japanese 21-year-old said.
American Williams, 38, turned back the clock in the final two sets at Indian Wells, dialling up the speed on her first serves and playing stout defence to seal a win that looked unlikely when she was down a double break in the second set. The seven-time grand slam champion threw her arms in the air and let out a roar when Kvitova sent a ball long on match point – the Czech’s 56th unforced error of the day. |