There are many different ways to win a golf tournament.
Some have it as good as sewn up with holes to play, some have the cushion of a multi-shot lead on the final tee and some have to prevail in a play-off.
And then sometimes, in the marathon that is 72-hole stroke play, it all comes down to that 72nd hole with everything to play for and everything on the line.
Here, we take a look at the most dramatic finishes from the season so far.
McIlroy magic wins it in Dubai
Rory McIlroy arrived at the Hero Dubai Desert Classic as World Number One and a two-time winner at Emirates Golf Club so it was no surprise he was the favourite for most. But despite having four Major Championships, four Harry Vardon Trophies and three FedEx Cups on his CV, the Northern Irishman had yet to win a Rolex Series event.
He was well within striking distance of the top of the leaderboard after opening rounds of 66-70 and a third-round 65 handed him a three-shot lead heading into a Monday finish at the weather-affected event. McIlroy then began the final day with eight straight pars and while he birdied the ninth, he soon had company at the top of the leaderboard with Patrick Reed making gains on the second, third and sixth before sealing an eagle at the tenth.
It was then nip and tuck as the duo both had spells in the solo lead, with McIlroy taking control on the 17th before a two-putt birdie from Reed on the par-five last left the 33-year-old needing a gain of his own for the title. He had to lay up after almost finding water off the tee but played a beautiful wedge shot to 14 feet and held his nerve to roll home and win a third Dallah Trophy.
"It was a battle all day," he said after big celebrations on the last. "Honestly it's been a battle all week. I really feel like I haven't had my best all week but I just managed my game so well and played really smart."
Gavins sneaks home after big scare in Ras Al Khaimah
We only had to wait six days for more drama on the DP World Tour and while Daniel Gavins' finish at the Ras Al Khaimah Championship was very different to McIlroy's, it was no less spectacular.
Gavins entered the final day at Al Hamra Golf Club two shots off the lead held by Zander Lombard after rounds of 68-66-68 but as the South African struggled on Sunday, Gavins hit the birdie trail. He may have bogeyed the first but he then birdied six of his next seven holes to take the lead before bogeys on the ninth and 12th had him in a share of top spot with Alexander Björk. Birdies at the 14th and 15th handed Gavins a two-shot lead as he stood on the 18th tee but the 32-year-old then almost unbelievably found water off the tee and again with his fourth shot to leave everything in the balance.
Nearest challenger Björk did him a favour by finishing his round with a bogey and Gavins had a double-bogey putt from around 30 feet to set the new target at 17 under. He holed it - thinking it would only earn him a play-off - and with Lombard missing his eagle try on the last, the title belonged to Gavins.
"I thought I had (given the tournament away)," he said. "I put two in the water and thought 'Well that's one way to end the tournament really'. When I sunk the putt and then went to the back of the green and saw that I was actually winning still, it was kind of a big shock!"
Siem wins German battle in India
Between now and the end of the 2023 season it is unlikely you will find a more popular victory than Marcel Siem's at the Hero Indian Open.
A four-time winner between 2004 and 2014, he was a European Challenge Tour graduate in 2021 and a Qualifying School graduate in 2022 as he looked to discover the magic of old and when he did it at DLF Golf & Country Club, he had to do it the hard way. Fellow German Yannik Paul was a winner last season and had led for the first three days in India after entering the week off the back of a runner-up finish.
That probably made him favourite as he went into day four with a one-shot lead over Siem, although the 42-year-old was in some good form of his own with no missed cuts from seven events. That form was evident as he made four birdies over the first 11 holes to move two strokes clear but his first bogey of the day at the 13th resulted in a two-shot swing as Paul made a birdie. Siem fought back, holing from 15 feet for a birdie on the long 15th to regain the solo lead and after parring the 16th and just missing his birdie try after a delightful approach into the 17th, he took a one-shot lead to the last. Having narrowly cleared the water guarding the green with his third shot, Siem made another par at the last and with Paul failing to make his birdie, the long wait for a win was over.
"Winning a golf tournament, being back in the winner’s circle now, it means everything to me," said Siem after an emotional celebration that saw him fling his hat to the ground. "It’s just unbelievable. Now I can choose and pick where I want to go again, it makes life a lot easier. I can prepare properly on the golf course, it’s a life-changer. I just can’t believe it. It’s amazing."
Rasmus makes Danish history
Rasmus Højgaard arrived in Denmark with low expectations on his return from a rib injury but appeared inspired by the chance to play in front on home crowds as he went on to make Danish history.
The 22-year-old put in three solid days of work with rounds of 68, 70 and 65 but still found himself six shots off the pace heading in to the final day. He got off to a fast start with back-to-back birdies at the second and third holes before adding two more at five and seven to make ground on the leaders, . When he failed to get up and down for par at the par-four ninth it looked likely to derail his momentum but the Dane quickly recovered with a birdie at the 10th and another at the 12th. Højgaard then capped off a round-of-the-day 64 with a final hole birdie, rolling it in from 20 feet to set the clubhouse target at 13-under.
He then watched on as Richie Ramsay made a double bogey on the par-four 18th – the toughest hole all week on the Fortinet Threat Score – to drop to 12 under, before Nacho Elvira bogeyed his final hole to ensure Højgaard's place in a play-off.
A gruelling play-off ensued, with Elvira and Højgaard trading pars five times on the tough finishing hole before they teed up for a sixth and final time. As Elvira made double-bogey, a sixth par was enough for Rasmus to return to the winner’s circle for the first time since his victory at the Omega European Masters in 2021.
“It means everything,” he said. “It’s a childhood dream come true. Ever since the tournament got to become a part of the schedule, we’ve always wanted a Danish winner out here. To be the first one is so cool.”
McIlroy's miraculous finish earns second Rolex title
Rory McIlroy's second Rolex Series title of the year came with a shot he described as one of the best in his career as he broke home hearts with his win at theGenesis Scottish Open.
The now World Number Two entered the final round with a one-shot lead but on a dramatic day in high winds at The Renaissance Club, it was home hero Robert MacIntyre who threatened to seal a fairytale win. The Scot, who produced a remarkable 64 on a Sunday where just 13 players were under par, charged up the leaderboard early and closed out his round with a stunning approach to the last to set the clubhouse target at 14 under par.
McIlroy knew he had to produce something special if he were to force a play-off or sneak a victory, and he didn't disappoint. A tee shot to five feet on the 17th helped him into a share of the lead, and then the Northern Irishman produced some closing magic of his own. After debating his club choice and switching to a 2-iron, McIlroy flew in his approach to 11 feet, and went on to nervelessly hole the putt to sign for a 68 and a one stroke victory.
"It's amazing," he said. "For the Race to Dubai, for the FedEx Cup, for my confidence in general, but for all those things that I talked about at the start of the week and trying to win the title on both sides of the Atlantic again this year, this, will go a long way.
"This is right up there with the best of (my performances), especially after missing the short birdie putt on 16. I thought if I can birdie one of the last two and get into a play-off, that would be a bonus.
"To finish two-three in these conditions, the two iron shots that I hit, the five iron into 17 and the two iron into the last are probably two of the best shots I've hit all year, and then to finish them off with the putts as well.
"It feels absolutely amazing. I've had a few close calls recently so to get over the line and get this bit of confidence going into next week and the rest of the season is huge."
