News All Articles
Pieters claims maiden European Tour win
News

Pieters claims maiden European Tour win

Thomas Pieters saw off stiff competition from Pelle Edberg to claim his first European Tour title at the D+D REAL Czech Masters.

Thomas Pieters

The 23 year old recovered from a double bogey on his front nine to card a three under par 69 and finish the week on 20 under, three shots clear of Sweden's Edberg in second.

Former US Amateur Champion Matt Fitzpatrick, who began his final round with four consecutive birdies, finished a shot further back on 16 under.

Robert Dinwiddie mixed five birdies with three bogeys on Sunday to finish in fourth place on 14 under par, three shots clear of Renato Paratore, Roope Kakko and Thorbjørn Olesen on 11 under.

Pieters, who took a one stroke lead into the final day, picked up a shot at the par five first before a double bogey at the short third saw him slip off the top of the leaderboard.

The young Belgian recovered from that setback with gains at the ninth and tenth to join Edberg in a share of the lead on 18 under par.

And with Edberg bogeying the 11th, a par at the same hole was enough to see Pieters take the outright lead.

Pieters rolled in from ten feet for a birdie at the 13th before another gain at the last saw Pieters close out the win.

After losing out in a play-off to Miguel Angel Jiménez at the 2014 Open de España, the Belgian was delighted to clinch his first European Tour title.

“This means everything to me. You work all year long for this and all my life right up to now. Thomas Pieters

"To be a European Tour winner is an amazing feeling right now. I’m happy to have my family with me and I’m very proud of the way I played today, especially after that early double.

“I had some really good numbers coming in on the back nine so I could hit it full. On 18 I had a perfect number and I hit a good shot and good putt, which was a nice way to finish.

"To say I can hold on to a lead and go low is nice. I’ve not really done that before. To be able to shoot 20 under par is great.

“I tried to stay patient today and I think I did a really good job. I was very nervous coming down the stretch to be honest. That just goes away the more you are in contention, and I’m looking forward to doing it again.

“It was special having my family here with me. I called them yesterday and they were in Belgium. For them to be here right now is pretty cool that they can experience this with me.

"They drove through the night to get here. It is a nine hour journey, but it is great to have them here.

“It’s great to get a victory so early in my career. There are so many players out here that maybe haven’t won, or who have just won once, so I am really happy right now."

Edberg opened his round with back to back birdies but blotted his copybook with a bogey at the par three third.

The Swede picked up another shot at the ninth to reach the turn in 34, before a bogey at the 11th put him on the back foot.

And the 36 year old could not close the gap on Pieters, finishing with seven pars to end the day on 71.

He said: “I left a few shots out there today so I’m a bit disappointed. Thomas and I played the same way as yesterday but he just beat me, so big congratulations to him.

"I started really well but then had a three putt and got away with a few pars. I didn’t really make any putts after the fifth hole today so it was tough.

“This was a bit different to when I’ve finished second before. In Sweden I was very nervous playing with Peter Hanson. This week I’ve been much more relaxed and felt much more comfortable, so it is a step in the right direction.”

Fitzpatrick began his round in style, making gains at each of the first four holes to surge up the leaderboard.

The Yorkshireman started his back nine with another birdie before back to back bogeys at the 15th and 16th derailed his challenge.

The 20 year old was pleased with his third-place finish. He said: “It’s a good week for me, finishing third. I got off to a great start today. It would have been nice to have carried it on.

"I gave myself great chances on five, six, seven and eight, and then stalled on the back nine. I was a couple of clubs out on a couple of holes, but I can’t complain.

"At the start of the year I would have taken finishing third here.

“I keep coming close so I’ve just got to keep doing what I’m doing, keep putting myself in positions and hopefully it will come.

"It was always going to be difficult being five behind at the start of the day, but I got it going early on but it is difficult to keep going low hole after hole.

“I’ve already exceeded my expectations at the start of the year by a country mile so I’ve just got to keep going in the right direction. It’s my 21st birthday next week so I’m looking forward to going to America to celebrate with my friends and then get ready for five on the spin.”

Read next