VICTOR DUBUISSON produced a stunning late charge to end his long wait for a second professional title by repeating his 2013 triumph at he Turkish Airlines Open.
The Frenchman birdied three of the last four holes at the Montgomerie Maxx Royal to finish on 22-under-par and beat Jaco van Zyl by one stroke.
Rory McIlroy paid for an inconsistent display as he was left to settle for tied sixth despite heading into the final round just one shot off the lead.
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Van Zyl and Dubuisson had been tied for the lead on 16-under-pat after the third round of play on Saturday, but it was the South African who led the way by one shot as he stood on the penultimate tee.
However, Dubuisson posted birdies on the final two holes to snatch victory, with the clinching putt on the last reducing him to tears.
Dubuisson had just two top tens coming into this week and the Ryder Cup star admits he has suffered from a crisis of confidence this year.
“It’s so hard because there were so many personal reasons why I didn’t play that much this year,” he said. “It’s not because I didn’t want to play.
“I was really counting on this Final Series to give me some confidence back because I completely lost it a few months ago. I was just missing everything.”
McIlroy’s challenge faded with back-to-back bogeys before the turn and he never regained the momentum on the back nine.
Shane Lowry, meanwhile, carded a blemish free round of 66 to finish inside the top ten and claim a cheque for close to €200,000 – although he was unable to gain any ground on McIlroy on the Race to Dubai standings.
The European Tour’s Final Series moves onto Shanghai next week with Lowry aiming to become only the second golfer to win back-to-back World Golf Championships.
Victor Dubuisson reduced to tears as he holds off Rory McIlroy to claim emotional win
VICTOR DUBUISSON produced a stunning late charge to end his long wait for a second professional title by repeating his 2013 triumph at he Turkish Airlines Open.
The Frenchman birdied three of the last four holes at the Montgomerie Maxx Royal to finish on 22-under-par and beat Jaco van Zyl by one stroke.
Rory McIlroy paid for an inconsistent display as he was left to settle for tied sixth despite heading into the final round just one shot off the lead.
Van Zyl and Dubuisson had been tied for the lead on 16-under-pat after the third round of play on Saturday, but it was the South African who led the way by one shot as he stood on the penultimate tee.
However, Dubuisson posted birdies on the final two holes to snatch victory, with the clinching putt on the last reducing him to tears.
Dubuisson had just two top tens coming into this week and the Ryder Cup star admits he has suffered from a crisis of confidence this year.
“It’s so hard because there were so many personal reasons why I didn’t play that much this year,” he said. “It’s not because I didn’t want to play.
“I was really counting on this Final Series to give me some confidence back because I completely lost it a few months ago. I was just missing everything.”
McIlroy’s challenge faded with back-to-back bogeys before the turn and he never regained the momentum on the back nine.
Shane Lowry, meanwhile, carded a blemish free round of 66 to finish inside the top ten and claim a cheque for close to €200,000 – although he was unable to gain any ground on McIlroy on the Race to Dubai standings.
The European Tour’s Final Series moves onto Shanghai next week with Lowry aiming to become only the second golfer to win back-to-back World Golf Championships.
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Golf Rory McIlroy turkish open Victor Dubuisson