Betfred British Masters hosted by Sir Nick Faldo: The debrief

Daniel Hillier became this season’s latest first-time winner on the DP World Tour, Gunner Wiebe enjoyed a day to remember as he earned a Major Championship debut, while Justin Rose was left to savour playing on home soil again. Here is everything you need to know from the 2023 Betfred British Masters hosted by Sir Nick Faldo.

Hillier climbs summit to clinch first Tour title

Daniel Hillier emerged from a crowded leaderboard on the final day at The Belfry to claim his maiden DP World Tour win.

The New Zealander began the final round three shots adrift of a six-way tie for the lead and still appeared a long shot when he reached the turn in one under 35. At the time, the European Challenge Tour graduate trailed by five from Dane Niklas Nørgaard, who had opened his day with three birdies in his first seven holes.

And while Niklas Nørgaard’s round hit a buffer either side of the turn, dropping four shots in as many holes, Hillier went eagle-birdie-eagle from the 15th before a nerveless two-putt par helped secure a two-shot victory.

"I'm over the moon and a bit lost for words,” he said in the immediate aftermath of his victory at the Brabazon Course.

"Those last few holes are going to take a while to process I think.”

Hillier follows in the footsteps of countryman Bob Charles, who won this tournament in 1972, and the 24-year-old was thrilled to be in such illustrious company.

He added: "That's pretty amazing. Obviously, he's New Zealand's golfing hero so it's pretty cool to be on the same trophy as him."

Trio qualify for the 151st Open

As if a trophy and big move up the Race to Dubai Rankings in Partnership with Rolex wasn’t enough for Hillier, victory also ensured his participation at this month’s Open Championship.

A two-time winner on the European Challenge Tour, he will make his second appearance in The Open after his debut at Royal St George’s two years ago.

He will be joined at Royal Liverpool by American Gunner Wiebe and Englishman Oliver Wilson, who finished joint runner-up together on an eight-under-par total of 280 to claim the other two spots on offer to the highest finishes not already exempt.

Wilson’s closing birdie on the 72nd hole ensured that the Englishman will tee it up for the seventh time in The Open and the first time since 2019 at Royal Portrush, while Wiebe will make his first Major start after a superb final round 66.

For Qualifying School graduate Wiebe, it means he will head to Merseyside to play on the same course where his father Mark made his final Major appearance at the 2014 Open.

• Read: From Uber driver to Belfry brilliance, Gunner Wiebe reflects on journey since career-threatening injury

Rose takes positives after title bid on home soil comes up short

Former World Number One Justin Rose cast an upbeat mood as he closed out his week with a bogey-free 69 to claim a share of fourth place.

A past winner and former host of this event, the 2013 U.S. Open Champion was targeting a first DP World Tour win since the 2018 Turkish Airlines Open on the back of a resurgence this year.

Victory at Pebble Beach on the PGA TOUR in February was his first in four years and he finds himself comfortably in the world’s top 50, ranked 28th following the latest update on Monday.

With both the Genesis Scottish Open and The Open on the horizon, Rose is now hopeful he can build on this performance as he looks to improve his hopes of Ryder Cup selection at Marco Simone Golf & Country Club in September.

“This week has been a good test of everyone’s game I think,” he said. “It is a good benchmark of where you are at.

“Normally you would say that about a U.S. Open but I felt this week the parameters of the fairways and how tight you had to hit the ball, I just thought it was a way to get a good read on my game.

“So, I am happy with how I passed that test and hopefully I can build on that over the next few weeks.”

Baldwin boosts Prostate Cancer UK with an ace

During Saturday’s round Matthew Baldwin was delighted to raise £50,000 for Prostate Cancer UK as he made his first hole-in-one on the DP World Tour.

The Challenge Tour Graduate holed his tee-shot with a five iron from 198 yards at the par three 14th, the same hole where host Sir Nick Faldo recorded an ace during the 1993 Ryder Cup.

As part of fundraising efforts to support leading men’s health charity Prostate Cancer UK, tournament title partner Betfred pledged their support by offering to donate £50,000 if a hole-in-one was made on the iconic hole.

“It’s an incredible feeling,” said Baldwin. “It’s quite close to me, my fiancée Claire, her dad has had prostate cancer and is recovering from it, and my best friend’s dad, Phil, who also sponsors me, he’s recovering from prostate cancer at the moment.

“So, it’s a nice touch to him and also everyone else who suffers from it."

Green Drive campaign proves sustainability hit and source of valuable funds raised for charity

The DP World Tour’s sustainability themed Green Drive campaign at the Betfred British Masters hosted by Sir Nick Faldo resulted in 2,600 trees being planted and £34,500 raised for Prostate Cancer UK.

In partnership with One Tree Planted, a non-profit environmental charity that plants trees in countries around the world, 100 trees are to be planted for every time a tee shot at the iconic 10th found the green.

For every player that drove the iconic par 4 10th hole at The Belfry from the tee, 100 trees are planted in an initiative launched in partnership with One Tree Planted, a non-profit environmental charity that plants trees in countries around the world.

In addition, 500 pounds was also donated by tournament partners Betfred for every eagle or birdie made with that number totalling £21,500.

The campaign was just one in a number of sustainability themed arrangements over the week, alongside a GolfSixes event, the return of Project Ukraine and the continuation of the G4D Tour as Kipp Popert claimed his sixth title in convincing fashion.

Star for the future

John Gough, the only amateur in the field, appears to be destined to enjoy a successful career in the game.

After an opening 68, the 24-year-old Englishman carded a 71 on day two to sit one off the pace at the halfway stage.

And while he may have slipped out of contention over the weekend on just his second DP World Tour start, there can be no denying the 2021 English Amateur champion’s talent.

He looks set to go professional after the Walker Cup in September and between now and then will hope to grasp any further opportunities to showcase himself on the big stage.

Enoch lands albatross

During the second round, Rhys Enoch landed the fifth albatross of 2023 as he recovered from a 74 in the first day to card a 69 and progress to the weekend.

The Welshman holed his second shot from 220 yards at the par-five third with a four iron to complete the rare feat.

Reflecting on his moment of brilliance, he wrote on Instagram: “What a wild wild day! Best 4iron of my life for an ALBATROSS. Such a fun round of golf, thanks to those boys making themselves loud out there !!"