Day four digest: 2022 Betfred British Masters hosted by Danny Willett

Everything you need to know from a dramatic final day at The Belfry.

Thorbjørn returned to the winner’s circle, the fans were out in force on the Brabazon Course, Sebastian nearly surprised everyone, while host Danny reflected on a special week on day four of the 2022 Betfred British Masters hosted by Danny Willett.

Here is everything you need to know from Sunday at the Brabazon Course.

Olesen leaves it late again to win

With Sebastian Soderberg in the clubhouse on nine under after an accomplished 68, Thorbjørn Olesen needed to play the last two holes in two under just to force a play-off, but the Dane went one better by holing from 28 feet for an eagle on the par-five 17th and 36 feet across the 18th green. It was the second day running that he had produced a miracle eagle-birdie finish. It secured the 32-year-old his sixth DP World Tour title and most significantly his first since the 2018 Italian Open. After struggling with a hook for the majority of the day, Olesen was over the moon to have returned to the winner's circle. "There are so many emotions, it's been a long time since I won and I knew how hard it was going to be," he said. "I was really struggling out there and just didn't have it. Somehow just kept on fighting and scrambling some cars and saw I still had a chance there on 17. Yeah, if I could make birdie, birdie, I thought I could force a playoff, so that was my thinking."

Sell-out crowd

A sell-out 15,000 crowd were present to witness all the drama that unfolded during the final round. After last year’s event was played behind closed doors due to the Covid-19 pandemic, fans were out in force over the week to witness the first of nine tournaments on the 2022 DP World Tour schedule to take place in the United Kingdom. And their presence did not go unnoticed by the players, including winner Olesen. “It was amazing, from Thursday on, I thought they were really great for me and supported me the whole way around, even though I'm from Denmark,” he said. “But it's like always when you come to Britain, there's just great support here for golf and it's a great place to play.”

Sebastian forced to settle for second

It could have been so different but for Olesen’s spectacular closing two holes. Soderberg appeared set to win his second DP World Tour after his earlier 68 – the equal best round of the day – to set the clubhouse target at nine under. Speaking in his post-round interview, the Swede thought he would fall short with several pairings still out on the course but as one by one they failed to overhaul him, the likelihood of him winning grew ever more likely. But after missing the cut in his last three starts, a second-place finish offers plenty of reason for optimism for the 2019 Omega European Masters champion.

Ramsay shows class after near miss

The standard of golf Richie Ramsay produced over the week, particularly his approach play during the final round was of the highest order. The Scotsman held a one-shot lead playing the last but his second shot into the water and finished with a double bogey to finish one shot behind clubhouse leader Soderberg. As it transpired, a par at the 18th would have only seen the 38-year-old finish in a play-off due to Olesen’s eagle-birdie finish. Despite the disappointment of narrowly falling short of a fourth DP World Tour title and first in seven years, Ramsay showed his class by signing autographs for fans near the 18th green.

Host Willett’s birdies help Prostate Cancer UK

Danny Willett carded a closing 71 to finish the week at five under and a share of 16th place. But he took plenty of positives from the week both on and off the course after his second consecutive year as the tournament host. His performance secured a £19,000 donation from tournament title sponsors Betfred to Prostate Cancer UK. That was to reflect the 19 birdies the 2016 Masters champion during his four rounds and Betfred’s pledge before the tournament to donate £1,000 for every birdie and £2,000 for every eagle Willett made. “It's been a really special week,” said Willett.