Tyrrell Hatton clinched his third Alfred Dunhill Links Championship title with a clutch birdie putt from just under four feet, leaving Nicolas Colsaerts’ valiant effort short of victory.
Colsaerts had a chance to push the match into a playoff but missed his birdie attempt by a whisker on the left side. The Belgian’s week-long excellence ended in heartbreak as Hatton celebrated his win.
Up and down for victory 💪@TyrrellHatton is the Alfred Dunhill Links Champion for a record third time! #dunhilllinks
— DP World Tour (@DPWorldTour)
Hatton took a daring approach with a bump-and-run chip through the Valley of Sin, setting up an easy finish. Meanwhile, Colsaerts faced an uphill battle after under-hitting his putt up the slope, needing nothing less than magic to stay in contention. Fans might wonder if Colsaerts could have chosen differently.
Both players launched impressive drives down the 18th hole, with Colsaerts having a slight edge due to proximity to the Valley of Sin. Yet, it was Hatton who maintained composure and precision when it mattered most.
Final Showdown:
As they approached the last hole all square, Colsaerts executed a neat skip-and-stop shot to eight feet. Hatton couldn’t convert his birdie opportunity, but Colsaerts managed to save par with a confident right-to-left putt.
Earlier in the round, Hatton gained an advantage by landing near the green from 222 yards out. In contrast, Colsaerts found himself short and right of the green with 219 yards remaining—leaving him with either a challenging long putt or delicate wedge shot.
Tommy Fleetwood’s hopes faded as he struggled with his final chip on 18; despite finishing strong for solo third place, it wasn’t enough to challenge Hatton’s lead. Overall though, Fleetwood had an admirable performance throughout the tournament.
On hole 17, both leaders finally teed off after some delay—Colsaerts veering left but still within reach while Hatton found fairway blissfully close to hotel views (as long as he avoided any drastic mishaps).
Fleetwood showed flashes of brilliance earlier on 17 when he nearly holed out from front-left position using clever spin control—but ultimately settled for par before heading onto 18th tee box.
Twists and Turns:
Hatton experienced ups and downs during back nine play; consecutive bogeys at holes 13 &14 threatened momentum yet somehow kept things interesting between him &Colsaert’s chase towards championship glory!
At one point tied atop leaderboard (-23), thanks largely due fantastic putting display by Nico himself who drained crucial birdies along way! https://twitter.com/cantworkitout/status/1842948472380772835
Fleetwood continued battling despite some errant strokes costing precious shots against leaders—as fans watched eagerly hoping for potential comeback story unfold before their eyes!
Dermot Desmond & Thorbjorn Olesen secured team event victory following remarkable two-putt effort extending lead comfortably heading into straightforward final stretch ahead…
What do you think about this thrilling golf showdown?
