Nicolai Hojgaard mounts stunning late charge to win DP World Tour Championship

Nicolai Hojgaard closed the DP World Tour Championship on Sunday with a superb 64, giving him the clubhouse lead with only two groups still on the Earth Course, and pulled his cap down over his face in disgust.

Bent double, he rested his hands on his knees, straightened then shook his head, and made a beeline for the scorer’s hut where he continued to beat himself up.

Hojgaard, who began the final round of the season-ending event three off the lead, had missed a short putt on the 18th, halting his birdie blitz on the Earth Course at five on the bounce.

The 8-under par hoisted him to a 21-under par total, but with Tommy Fleetwood one shot back on the hole behind and with the par-5 closer to come, Hojgaard steeled himself for a play-off.

Had that putt have dropped, he chastised, his chances of the biggest win of a still-embryonic professional career would have been markedly more favourable.

Yet Fleetwood three-putted 17 to drop two back, meaning he, Viktor Hovland and overnight leader Matt Wallace all required eagle on the last to force a play-off. All three made pars.

Hovland, only 22, had won it. A third DP World Tour title, not to mention a cool $3 million, was his.

“It means a lot,” the Dane said afterwards. “It's the sweetest one. So much hard work’s been put in the last couple years, and this year has been a really good year.

“The only thing missing was a win, and to get it this week, this field, is unbelievable. I can't believe it's just happened.

How it finished in Dubai