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Hatton holding off Perez on Sunday afternoon
Rolex Series

Hatton holding off Perez on Sunday afternoon

Home favourite Tyrrell Hatton held a narrow one shot lead as he reached the turn on day four of the 2020 BMW PGA Championship but he had a red hot chasing pack breathing down his neck.

Hatton

The Englishman made a patient start to his final round, safely parring his first four holes before birdies at the fifth and ninth took him to 16 under par.

France's Victor Perez was just one shot adrift after making an eagle and two birdies in his first nine holes.

Andy Sullivan was alone in third another stroke back after notching an eagle and five birdies in his first 14.

Hatton, who has spoken this week of his desire to win this event having visited Wentworth Golf Club as a fan with his father when he was five years old, began the day three shots clear of his nearest challengers.

But the 28-year-old was caught early on Sunday after opening his fourth round with four straight pars while tournament debutant Perez made an early eagle and birdie to grab a share of the lead on 14 under.

Two time Rolex Series champion Hatton edged back in front with his first birdie of the day from 12 feet on the par three fifth before revealing in an on-course interview that he had been more nervous today than he was for his Ryder Cup debut in 2018.

In the group ahead, Perez span his approach into the seventh green back to within two feet of the flag to set up a tap-in birdie and rejoin Hatton in the lead.

After pulling off a nerveless par save having got into bunker trouble on the seventh, Hatton closed his front nine with a birdie putt from 25 feet to regain the outright lead on 16 under.

Perez started the day three behind Hatton but set about closing the gap with a birdie at the par three second after sending his tee shot to six feet.

As Hatton found himself battling for pars rather than birdies in the early stages of his round, Perez took full advantage with an eagle from 22 feet at the long fourth to join him at the summit.

Last year's Alfred Dunhill Links Championship winner Perez gave himself further birdie chances on the fifth and sixth but could not convert them.

After sending his approach at the seventh over the flag and watching on as the ball span back to a couple of feet, Perez knocked in for another birdie before closing his front nine with back to back pars.

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