HORSFIELD ‘SO HAPPY’ WITH WIN AT SOUDAL

Sam Horsfield secured his third DP World Tour title just two weeks after his return from a threemonth injury absence, winning the Soudal Open in Antwerp yesterday by two shots.

Horsfield overcame overnight leader Ryan Fox in a thrilling finalround battle, carding four birdies and a solitary bogey in a closing 68 to finish the tournament on 13 under par.

The Englishman found himself with serious work to do after pars at the opening six holes left him three shots behind playing partner Fox, but a birdie putt from around 33ft at the seventh kick-started Horsfield’s round.

After closing the gap further at the start of the back nine, Horsfield found himself out in front for the first time when Fox bogeyed the 16th.

With both men making birdies at the 17th, Horsfield took a oneshot lead to the 18th and a par there was enough to secure a two-shot victory.

Horsfield, who had his partner on the bag this week, was fighting back the tears as he completed his round.

He told Sky Sports: “I was trying not to cry while I was over that little tap-in (at the 18th). Having Issi on the bag, it’s been an amazing week.

“Mick (Seaborn, his regular caddie) is not here but I wish he was. I said yesterday I wanted to do it for him and I was able to do it for him. I’m just so, so happy.

“I definitely thought about Mick quite a lot. Especially on the back nine, I pulled a few clubs that he definitely would have wanted me to hit.”

Fox and Yannik Paul finished in a tie for second on 11 under par.

Fife’s Connor Syme carded a final round 70 to finish on level par – 13 shots behind Horsfield.

Richie Ramsay finished on six under thanks to a closing 69. Leading Scot was Grant Forrest whose 70 yesterday saw him finish seven under.