Olesen storms to convincing victory at Ras Al Khaimah Championship
London, UK: Thorbjørn Olesen won his eighth DP World Tour title in convincing fashion as he fired a closing 67 at the Ras Al Khaimah Championship.
The Dane entered the final day four shots clear of Rasmus Højgaard but saw that lead wiped put within seven holes as his countryman made a blistering start.
A stunning eagle and three-shot swing on the next completely changed the complexion of the day, however, and Olesen eased to a six-shot win at 27 under.
Højgaard signed for a 69 to finish at 21 under, one shot clear of Frenchman Frederic Lacroix, who ended his week with a 68.
Olesen's total of 261 - which included a course-record equalling 62 on Friday - is the lowest of the season, with his score to par also the lowest of the season by seven strokes.
His six-shot winning margin is also the biggest of the season so far and Olesen has now won in three consecutive seasons and seven times out of eight when holding the 54-hole lead.
He moves up to sixth in the Race to Dubai Rankings in Partnership with Rolex and could go as high as 57th on the Official World Golf Ranking, his highest position since June 2019.
"It's very special," said UAE-based Olesen, whose family were present to see his win. "Standing here with (son) Cooper makes it a little more special.
"It was still a battle out there, it got close and you've got one of the most solid players right behind you so I knew it was going to be tough and we were tied for the lead very quickly.
"I played some nice golf coming in and holed the right putts at the right time.
"To win was a goal and it was nice to get that here, especially being here at my new home. It's always a place I like to come to, not just for golf but for holidays. It's a great place and I'm really happy that I could get a win here.”
Both Olesen and Højgaard birdied the first after beautiful approaches to inside ten feet but Olesen found the waste area down the left off the second tee and needed four blows to get on the green, surrendering a double-bogey and seeing his lead cut to two.
He went left again off the next tee with Højgaard looking at 13 feet for eagle but Olesen recovered and drained a 36-footer for birdie as Højgaard two-putted.
The 22-year-old did not lose momentum after that setback, however, playing a stunning bunker shot to get up and down on the drivable par-four fifth and sending his tee-shot right over the flag at the seventh to join the lead.
It was then a tale of two second shots on the par-five eighth, as Olesen left himself six feet for eagle and Højgaard hit a shank, with the resulting three-shot swing turning the day on its head.
Olesen led by four after a 25-footer on the tenth and while Højgaard hit back on the par-three 11th with a tee-shot to five feet, he missed a short effort to three-putt the 13th.
Both men got up and down for birdie on the par-five 14th and when Olesen recovered from a ragged tee-shot to par the 17th and Højgaard missed a seven-footer for birdie, he took a four-shot lead to the treacherous tee at the par-five last.
Daniel Gavins made a double-bogey on the 72nd hole last season en route to victory but there was no such drama this time around as Olesen got up and down from the sand for a birdie, while Højgaard dropped a shot after finding the water.
Lacroix is back on the DP World Tour after a second graduation from the European Challenge Tour last season and secured his best result to date, carding six birdies and two bogeys in round four.
German duo Maximilian Kieffer and Yannik Paul, Japan's Keita Nakajima, Englishman Callum Shinkwin and South African Brandon Stone finished the week ten shots off the lead.
ENDS
Image caption: Thorbjorn Olesen is awarded the trophy by His Highness Sheikh Ahmed Bin Saud Bin Saqr Al Qasimi on the 18th green during Day Four of the Ras Al Khaimah Championship at Al Hamra Golf Club.
For media enquiries, please contact [email protected]
About the DP World Tour
The DP World Tour is the main men’s professional golf Tour of the European Tour group.
Our 2024 global schedule features a minimum of 44 tournaments in 24 different countries across three distinct phases of the season: five ‘Global Swings’ from November 2023 to August 2024; the ‘Back 9’ from September 2024 to October 2024; and the ‘DP World Tour Play-Offs’, comprising two consecutive Rolex Series events in November 2024.
Overall, the 2024 season features five Rolex Series events – the premium category of events on the DP World Tour - and four Major Championships, all of which count towards the Race to Dubai Rankings in partnership with Rolex, the Tour’s season-long competition which concludes at the DP World Tour Championship, Dubai.
DP World, the leading provider of global smart end-to-end supply chain and logistics solutions, has been the title partner of the DP World Tour since the start of the 2022 season, the Tour’s 50th season following its formation in 1972.
About the European Tour group
The European Tour group is the overarching corporate brand which administers: the DP World Tour, the Challenge Tour, the Legends Tour and the G4D Tour and, along with the PGA of America, is the Managing Partner of golf’s greatest team contest, the Ryder Cup.
Established in 1972, the European Tour group is committed to ‘Driving Golf Further’ through our guiding principles of being innovative, inclusive and global.
Innovative: We are driving innovation in golf through the creation of award-winning content, pioneering tournament formats and the use of the latest technology and inventive fan engagement. We are committed to attracting new audiences whilst respecting the tradition of our sports.
Inclusive: We are committed to include all who share a love for the game of golf. We are passionate about a closer collaboration with the women’s game, golf for the disabled and promoting the many physical and mental health benefits of playing golf.
Global: Since 1972, players from 38 different countries have won tournaments on our main Tour, while our live broadcast reaches more than 490 million homes in more than 150 countries every week, generating in excess of 2,200 global broadcast hours for each event. We also enjoy the support of many of the world’s leading business brands with DP World, Rolex, BMW, Emirates, Fortinet and Hilton as Official Partners.
The European Tour group has Strategic Alliances with the PGA TOUR, the Sunshine Tour and Challenger PGA Tour of Australasia. Those Strategic Alliances, combined with partnerships with the Japan Golf Tour Organization (JGTO), the Korea Professional Golfers’ Association (KPGA), and the TATA Steel Professional Golf Tour of India, provide global pathways for players from across the world to compete internationally on the DP World Tour, the main men’s professional golf Tour of the European Tour group.
We ensure we have a positive long-term impact on the courses, countries and the communities we visit through ‘Golf for Good’, the umbrella name for the European Tour group’s commitment to ‘Driving Golf Further’ in an environmentally and socially sustainable way.
About Ras Al Khaimah Tourism Development Authority (RAKTDA)
The Ras Al Khaimah Tourism Development Authority (RAKTDA) was established in May 2011 under the government of Ras Al Khaimah. RAKTDA aims to develop the Emirate’s tourism infrastructure and establish Ras Al Khaimah as a world-class destination for leisure and business travel, creating sustainable investment opportunities and enhancing the quality of life for its residents. In order to achieve its goals, the Authority has a government mandate to license, regulate and monitor the Emirate’s tourism and hospitality industry.
www.visitrasalkhaimah.com | Facebook | Twitter | Instagram | LinkedIn | YouTube
About Al Hamra
Al Hamra is a leading lifestyle development and investment company, based in Ras Al Khaimah, UAE, and has been ranked among the top 50 GCC developers in 2022 by Construction Week Middle East. The company has been instrumental in shaping the Northern Emirate’s real estate and investment landscape across residential, retail, hospitality, leisure, and entertainment since its inception in 2003. In line with Ras Al Khaimah’s vision 2030, Al Hamra unveiled its ambitious five-year roadmap underpinned by a three-pronged approach to deliver premier lifestyle experiences, quality products, and world-class services. The company is committed to supporting Ras Al Khaimah’s transformational journey as one of the foremost investment, business, residential, and tourism destinations by driving sustained growth on the back of expanding its existing residential and hospitality portfolios while also optimizing retail and investing in value-added services.
Located just 45 mins away from Dubai International airport, and the free-trade zone, Al Hamra entails entities such as the multi-award-winning Al Hamra Village, Al Hamra Golf Club, Royal Yacht Club of Ras Al Khaimah, and Manar Mall in addition to its upcoming ground-breaking residential project – Falcon Island – which will surpass all previous developments in the Emirate. The group also owns iconic hospitality assets such as Waldorf Astoria Ras Al Khaimah, The Ritz-Carlton Ras Al Khaimah Al Hamra Beach, Al Hamra Residences, and Al Hamra Village Hotel managed by Deutsche Hospitality as well as the upcoming Sofitel Ras Al Khaimah Beach Resort. Al Hamra aims to enhance the destination appeal of Ras Al Khaimah while driving regional and global partnerships that create exceptional value for customers, visitors, and investors alike.
Follow Al Hamra on Instagram, Twitter, Facebook, and LinkedIn for more updates