Frenchman Victor Dubuisson has upstaged some of golf’s biggest stars including World No.1 Tiger Woods to win the inaugural Turkish Airlines Open.
Dubuisson, 23 shot a final round 69 to claim a first Tour victory by two shots with a 24-under par tally.
The Andora-based golfer was sprayed with champagne by countrymen Julien Quesne, Gregory Bourdy and Gregory Havret seconds after holing an eight foot putt for birdie.
Victor DUBUISSON (FRA) on the 18th green to win during round 4 of the Turkish Airlines Open presented by the Ministry of Tourism and Culture, hosted at the The Montgomerie Maxx Royal,Antalya,Turkey.
Picture: Fran Caffrey www.golffile.ie
The former top-ranked amateur, who went into the last round leading by five shots, was near speechless in learning the enormity of his victory including a $US 1,116m first prize cheque, a jump inside the top-40 on the World Rankings and with that a start next year in all four majors and each of the four WGC events.
“I wanted to cry on the 18th green as I did not realise what was happening as I was so concentrated,” and so focussing on my game that I realised that I have won such a big event,” he said.
“I am so happy as I struggled early and not managing to make my first birdie to the 10th hole. I was also watching the leader board and I could see all the good players coming back to me.
“But then my caddy said to me that if I make one or two birdies near the end I would be fine, so then to hole that 25-foot putt for birdie on 17 and to make the eight-footer on the last was very special.”
Dubuisson was showered in champagne by countryman Julien Quesne, Gregory Bourdy and Gregory Havret while he was full of praise for final round playing partner and fellow Frenchman Raphael Jacquelin.
“Of course, Raphael and I are very good friends but on the first tee we were rivals but when he knew he couldn’t win he was very encouraging and helping calm me down.”
And when Dubuisson was quizzed who was his golfing idol he responded: “He was playing in the group ahead of me. Tiger Woods.”
Welshman Jamie Donaldson drew level at 22-under par with Dubuisson when he had a hole-in-one at the par three 16th that earned him one million air miles courtesy of the title sponsor.
England’s Justin Rose boosted hopes of finishing next week at European No.1 in shooting a last day 64 to share third place on 20-under par with Woods who birdied four of his closing five holes in a five under par 67 for fourth place on 20-under par.
Woods was returning home to Florida ahead of his final event of the year and his own World Challenge commencing on December 5th at Thousand Oaks in suburban L A.
“I said 20-under par was going to win this week and it kind of ended up being that way,” he said.
“I’ve enjoyed coming here again to Turkey and while this year was totally different format to last year, this was a fun tournament.
“It was different in the fact that you had to make so many birdies.
“So I’m now hanging up the clubs for a little bit, so it’s going to be nice.”
Woods will return to the event next year as part of a three-year deal he signed with the Turkish Golf Federation while he will commence 2014 also on the European Tour in teeing up in the 25th anniversary Dubai Desert Classic on January 30th.
Sweden’s Henrik Stenson, who shot a 69 to share seventh place on 18-under par heads to next week’s Race to Dubai finale still leading the money list.
Stenson has seen his lead has been slashed from Euro 343,866 to Euro 213,468 over Rose who has moved in second place ahead of the absent Graeme McDowell.
However the leading four contenders for the European No. 1 title are now separated by Euro 343,906.
And Stenson is also considering from this week’s Pro-Am as he did ahead of the recent BMW Masters in Shanghai.
“I want to give my wrist a full two days rest and just do light practice, so it is going to affect my preparations but it’s been like that for three weeks, so I just do the best I can,” he said.
