Spain’s Pablo Larrazabal shot a final round of 67 for a 72-hole score of 12 under par to win the $2 million Korean Championship Presented by Genesis played on the Jack Nicklaus Golf Club Korea, Incheon in South Korea on the DP World Tour.
This is the 39 year-old’s eighth victory on the DP World Tour, who is an Honorary Life Member of Abu Dhabi Golf Club courtesy of winning the 2014 Abu Dhabi HSBC Championship played over the National Course, won by two shots after producing a back-nine birdie blitz to see off a high-quality chasing pack.
Larrazábal went into the final round one shot off the lead having bogeyed the 17th when he returned to complete his third round on Sunday morning.
But he took advantage of both of the front nine's par fives - the third and seventh - in round four to share the lead at the turn.
Bounced back
After starting the back nine with a disappointing bogey, Larrazábal bounced back with two consecutive birdies from around five feet at the 11th and 12th to grab the outright lead on ten under.
He created another good chance at the par-three 13th but was unable to convert his 15-foot putt.
A successful 20-foot birdie effort on the 14th green stretched Larrazábal's lead to two strokes before he got a lucky break at the 15th.
His tee-shot appeared to be going out of bounds but a fortuitous bounce sent the ball back down the slope and onto the cart path.
He made the most of his break, using his second shot to get the ball back in play before lifting his approach to two feet to set up a bonus birdie.
Holding a three-shot lead with three holes remaining, Larrazábal safely parred the 16th and 17th before finishing his round with another par on the last to clinch the trophy.
Windy conditions
Larrazábal felt his performance in windy conditions on Saturday contributed greatly to his victory.
He said, ‘Yesterday (Saturday) was a battle. I actually didn't look at the leaderboard too much yesterday because I knew that it was a long road and it was all about keeping the ball in the best spots that I could putt or chip from.
‘To shoot one under par yesterday was amazing. Obviously, I was a little bit disappointed this morning to finish bogey-par in yesterday's round.
‘But I love to compete, I love to fly out here, to see all these young guys hitting it miles and try to beat them.
‘And that's what makes me the happiest guy in the world.’
This win moves Larrazabal upto 13th in the season long Race to Dubai Rankings.
Dane Marcus Helligkilde signed for a fourth-round 68 to finish in solo second on ten under, one clear of home favourite Park Sanghyun, Spain's Jorge Campillo, Dutchman Joost Luiten and Scotland's Scott Jamieson.
Dubai’s Adrian Meronk shot a four-round score of five under par with a fourth round of 73, to finish in tied 21st place.
The DP World Tour now travels to the venue for the 2023 Ryder Cup, Marco Simone GC in Rome for the $3.25 million DS Automobiles Italian Open starting on Thursday next week.
