Dane Bjerregaard denies Hatton crown
ST ANDREWS: Denmark’s Lucas Bjerregaard fired a steady five-under 67 in the final round at St Andrews on Sunday to win the Alfred Dunhill Links Championship.
Bjerregaard, who was tied for fifth and four shots behind overnight leader Tyrrell Hatton after the third round, excelled in blustery conditions on Sunday to deny the Englishman a third straight title in the tournament.
It was a second European Tour crown for Bjerregaard, who won last year’s Portugal Masters.
“I’m getting a little emotional. It’s been a great year and now it’s just a whole lot better,” said the 27-year-old Bjerregaard, who went 15-under for the tournament.
“It didn’t look like I was ever in it today, it looked like Tyrrell was going to take off with it. I was trucking away at it. I’ve been playing well for a while and I played really well today and I’m pleased that it was enough.”
Hatton, who had four bogeys on the back nine to finish one shot behind Bjerregaard, said he was pleased with his display despite missing out on a historic victory.
“Yeah, there are positives. Obviously finishing second is a good effort. Tried my best to win it again. It would have been pretty special to have three in a row. Didn’t work out. Wasn’t meant to be.”
He was tied for second place alongside fellow Ryder Cup winner Tommy Fleetwood.
Finland’s Tapio Pulkkanen was fourth ahead of Italy’s Andrea Pavan and China’s Li Haotong, who were tied fifth.