Dutch Open: Kristoffer Broberg wins the tournament ahead of Matthias Schmid after “six years of hell” | Golf news

Kristoffer Broberg only played 11 events between 2018 and 2020 due to hip and knee injuries, but he won his first tournament in six years with a three-stroke victory at the Dutch Open; watch the Ryder Cup on Sky Sports, with Day 1 Foursomes starting at 1 p.m. on Friday

An emotional Kristoffer Broberg put “six hellos” behind him by producing 72 fights on the final day of the Dutch Open to hold the chase pack and win his second title on the European Tour.

The Swede entered the final round with an eight stroke lead after Saturday’s 61, but was left just two clears with two holes remaining after a return nine that included two bogeys and some excellent saves.

Dutch Open: final classification

But he kept his cool to wrap up a three-stroke victory – his first on the European Tour since winning his first 2015 BMW Masters title almost six years ago.

Broberg has had a bumpy run since then, with hip and knee injuries that only saw him play 11 events between 2018 and 2020.

And he couldn’t hold back his tears after his victory at Bernardus Golf on Sunday.

Broberg said: “It feels good, I broke down at 18 but it’s been six hell of a year. Three different surgeries on my left side but now I’m starting to get back to where I’m supposed to be.

“The first few days I played really well. Today I was struggling like I did in the offseason. I thought my eight stroke lead would be enough today, but Matthias (Schmid) played very nice golf. .

“It’s been a nightmare (over the past six years). I was so close to quitting, it’s been so… I don’t know the word for it, but it’s been a rough time. is much bigger (than his last victory in 2015), more emotions.

“It’s going to be a game changer. I’m going to go to bigger events and I can plan my schedule a bit. Before that, I was at home for a month. I didn’t know where my game was, but it was ‘was good enough. “

Germany’s Matthias Schmid finished alone in second place with less than 20 points after scoring a closing 66, while Alejandro Canizares was two strokes behind in third.

Broberg got off to a good start, hitting his birdie putt from 13 feet in the first to reach 24 under before giving it back in the third.

He made his way safely to the turn, but his closest opponents were closing in with the lead now reduced to four shots.

A birdie for Broberg in the 10th was followed by a valuable save by the 11th, but he put himself in danger of undoing all that hard work when he had tree problems in the 12th and decided not to. not take the safe option.

His bet didn’t pay off as he hit a clump of grass and watched his ball roll back before settling into a bush.

He had to take a penalty from there and now had a big score and a huge swing at the top of the standings opposite.

But after diving into the rough next to a bunker on the green, Broberg broke through his pitch to drop just one shot. And with Schmid narrowly missing his eagle putt at the same hole, the German closed with just two strokes when it could have been a lot worse for Broberg.

After seeing Schmid double bogey in the 13th, Broberg put his tee shot in the 14th into the water to drop another stroke.

But he avoided further damage with a superb sand save in the 15th before birdieing in the 17th to move once more than three clears. A par to the last one was good enough to clinch the trophy.