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St. Andrews, Scotland – Danny Willett celebrated his birthday by winning the Alfred Dunhill Links Championship by two strokes on Sunday.
The Englishman took a three-stroke lead on the final round of the European Tour, which was played on the Old Course at St. Andrews. Willett managed a score of under 68 and finished 18 under par for his eighth professional victory and the first since the BMW PGA Championship in September 2019.
Willett, the 2016 Masters champion, turned 34 on Sunday.
“To all watching, this (victory) seems quite unexpected,” said Willett, “but the practice I have done at home and the inner conviction we have every time we get into position and out of position to do anything was proven again.
His English compatriot Tyrrell Hatton, double champion of the event, shot 67 and finished tied for second with Sweden’s Joakim Lagergren (66).
Players on the pitch completed a round at St. Andrews, Kingsbarns and Carnoustie – three of Scotland’s most famous courses – from Thursday to Saturday. Those who made the cut returned to St. Andrews for the final round.
Willett extended his lead to four in the early stages on Sunday and – as he was briefly put together by Richard Bland (68) – birdies in the ninth and 10th gave him a three-stroke advantage once more and eight pars. on the difficult section of closed fence to come out the victory.
This season has seen Willett battle COVID-19, wisdom teeth, appendicitis and a hernia.
“I seem to do it a lot actually, going up and down,” Willett said. “It’s been very unfortunate the last eight months, really. Every time the game feels like it’s been in a nice place, we’ve had a few of the things, health issues, just things that you can’t. not really avoid.
Bland had four birdies in a row from the fourth and added another in the ninth to catch up with the lead. He is tied for fourth with Shane Lowry (68).
– Associated press
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