Victory in Prague ends Pieters’ title drought

EUROPEAN TOUR: Belgian holds off playing partner to claim first solo win since 2016

Belgium’s Thomas Pieters breathed a sigh of relief after ending his three-year wait for a fourth European Tour title by winning the D+D Real Czech Masters for the second time in five years.

Pieters took a one-shot lead into the final round at Albatross Golf Resort in Prague and carded a closing 69 to finish 19 under par, a shot ahead of playing partner Adri Arnaus, the Spanish rookie’s third runners-up finish this season.

England’s Sam Horsfield was two strokes further back alongside defending champion Andrea Pavan, who surged through the field with a 65, the joint-lowest score of the final day.

Liam Johnston was top Scot. He closed with a 70 to finish in a group five behind the winner.

Pieters partnered Thomas Detry to victory in the World Cup in Melbourne last year but had not won an individual event since 2016, the year he won a record four points on his Ryder Cup debut at Hazeltine.

“I’m relieved. It’s been a long time,” Pieters said.

“It feels good to win again. I never doubted myself but it’s just been a long road of not feeling that great with the golf swing.

“It feels good to get back on track again and get another win.

“It’s difficult when everybody says you should be winning two or three times a year.

“It’s always nice to hear that but it’s almost a negative sometimes because I always felt like I was underachieving, but hopefully, there’s many more like this.

“I felt like I was in control today, almost the whole day, and I kind of did my own thing.”

Pieters held a four-shot lead after going to the turn in 33 and picking up a fifth birdie of the day on the 12th but saw his advantage halved when he bogeyed the 16th and Arnaus made birdie.

Arnaus also birdied the 18th to ensure Pieters could not relax entirely but the 27-year-old safely holed his par putt from two feet.

Thomas Pieters: relieved to be a Tour winner again.