Højgaard triumphs after play-off drama at The Belfry

Rasmus Højgaard earned his second European Tour win on just his 15th start after edging out Justin Walters in a play-off for the 2020 ISPS HANDA UK Championship.

On a dramatic final day at The Belfry, the 19-year-old from Denmark came from five strokes back to finish level with Walters on 14 under par.

When the contest went to extra holes, Højgaard held his nerve with consecutive pars down the 18th, with his South African opponent making a bogey on the second trip back down the last after shanking his approach from a bunker.

Højgaard became the first player born in the 21st century to come through Qualifying School last year and quickly made an impact, winning on his fifth start with an eagle on the third play-off at the 2019 AfraAsia Mauritius Bank Open. His second victory comes in just his 15th start.

“I was a bit surprised that I ended up in a play-off, but it was fun out there,” said Højgaard, whose victory saw him pip Sam Horsfield to the UK Swing Order of Merit.

“It’s hard to describe. It’s obviously an amazing feeling to get the wins. It happened really quick. I’m kind of lost for words right now, but it’s an amazing feeling.”

Højgaard went to the turn in 33 – an approach to within five feet at the sixth the highlight of his three birdies – and added another gain at the tenth.

However, just as he was lurking dangerously on the leaderboard, an errant tee shot on the 11th saw him miss the green and fail to get up and down.

That appeared to leave Walters and Martin Kaymer battling for the title, but in a remarkable finish Højgaard birdied the 14th and 16th and eagled the par five 17th to complete a round of 65.

Walters was two shots clear of Kaymer and Benjamin Hebert at the start of the day but, having saved par from a bunker at the first, bogeyed the second after a wild drive finished the wrong side of a thicket of trees.

The 39-year-old South African's fighting qualities have never been in doubt, however, and he responded with a hat-trick of birdies that took him clear again.

Kaymer would be made to regret a cold putter – he lipped out for birdie on the eighth and 12th and for eagle on the 15th.

However, four birdies had seemingly put the two-time Major winner on course for a first victory in six years before he bogeyed the 17th after a wayward drive was followed by an overcooked chip from the edge of the green.

Walters had seemingly lost his chance of a first European Tour title with a triple-bogey on the eighth after driving into a construction yard and then three-putting, but recovered with four further birdies against a single bogey in his round of 70.

He and Højgaard finished a shot clear of Kaymer, who missed a ten foot birdie chance at the last in his 69, and Hebert, who holed a spectacular approach for eagle at the sixth along with three bogeys and four birdies.

Bernd Wiesberger chipped in at the last for a 65 which was matched by Scotland's Craig Howie as they shared fifth place on 12 under.