SA’s Harding breaks duck

– South Africa’s Justin Harding (above) birdied three of his last four holes to claim a first European Tour win at the Commercial Bank Qatar Masters yesterday.

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 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.

“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 before. I didn’t enjoy it but it’s good fun, I’m glad it happened and now we move on.

“I get into the events that I’d like to be into again, the schedules change, I’m no longer having to pick and choose. I’m looking forward to seeing what happens going forward and playing in some bigger events.”

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 worldwide for the 33-yearold 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. – ANA

Qatar

I didn’t enjoy it but it’s good fun, I’m glad it happened – now we move on.

Justin Harding Qatar Masters champion