Victor Dubuisson birdied three of his final four holes to magnificently win the Turkish Airlines Open. The 23-year-old Frenchman had started the day five shots ahead of Ian Poulter, but he would hold his nerve with an array of leading players all surging to catch him at the summit. However, his superb finish illustrated the talent that has long been seen in this gutsy player from Cannes, and he produced a thrilling climax to complete his own cinematic masterpiece to win his first title on the European Tour.
Coming into Sunday, with the likes of Henrik Stenson, Tiger Woods and Ian Poulter all giving chase, Dubuisson’s five shot advantage never felt unassailable, which makes his triumph in Turkey even more impressive. He illustrated ability under pressure that was beyond his limited experience thus far.
He made nine consecutive pars on his opening holes, and that looked like it may have been good enough to win, before Wales’ Jamie Donaldson would stunningly surge into the reckoning. With Dubuisson having just made his first birdie of the day on the tenth, Donaldson would make birdies of his own on the tenth, 11th, 13th and 15th, moved him to 19-under for the tournament, before a dramatic moment on the par three 16th.
He would aggressively play his tee shot to within five feet of the pin, and he watched his ball stunningly trickle back towards the hole – eventually falling in for a hole in one. That eagle came at the opportune moment, as his 21-under score would soon move him into a tie for the lead, with Dubuisson dropping a shot at the 14th.
However, the 23-year-old would courageously bounce back with a birdie at the 15th, but Donaldson was not yet to be vanquished, after he produced a brilliant approach to within 20 feet on the par five 18th.
With an opportunity for eagle on offer, the Welshman would have to settle for a birdie after a two-putt. That set the clubhouse target of 22-under, and it was then down to Dubuisson to prove to all his immense metal in the heat of contention.
That mental strength would be no better illustrated than on the 17th, where Dubuisson would stunningly hole a 25-foot birdie putt to move one shot clear of the Welshman.
Requiring only a par on the 18th to claim his maiden title, Dubuisson would finish off in style by assuring himself of a two shot victory after a closing birdie on the par five. It was a champion’s performance from Dubuisson in the backdrop of a leaderboard littered with great champions.
“I don't know how to describe it,” said Dubuisson. “Now I don't realise what's happening. I felt so much pressure on the last hole.
“Holing this putt on 17 was like; it was incredible. It was incredible, and the birdie on 18, it's a bonus.
“But even on the last putt, I was feeling so much stress. After this day, it was the longest day on the course that I've ever had. I'm very proud of what I did.”
The day belonged to Dubuisson, who finished two ahead of Donaldson, and four ahead of Justin Rose and Tiger Woods. Ian Poulter would finish a shot further back at 19-under, with Race to Dubai leader Henrik Stenson at 18-under after a final round of 69.
With the European Tour season coming to an end next week in Dubai, it was the Race to Dubai that also was thrust into attention, with Rose and Poulter both closing the gap on Stenson ahead of next week’s showdown.
U.S. Open champion Justin Rose would surge into the reckoning with a stunning final round of 65, despite disappointing dropped shots on the 14th and 18th. However, it took him up to second on the Race to Dubai – within 214,000 points of Stenson.
“I think I've gained some ground, yeah, for sure. It's nice to be able to control your own fate next week”, said Rose.
“So if I go in and have a good week, win a golf tournament, which is obviously the aim any time you tee it up; but if I go ahead and do that, that's going to obviously be the exact scenario I'm looking for. Fifth last week, probably tied for third this week, I like the way that's trending towards No. 1.”
After a productive start, Ian Poulter would stall on the back nine. He played his opening 11 holes in four-under, bringing him into contention to win the tournament, but he would falter in his closing holes – playing them in just level par. However, the 37-year-old still has an opportunity to win the money list, as does Graeme McDowell – who didn’t compete this week in Turkey.
However, the man they are chasing is Henrik Stenson, and it is all in his hands. The Swede, who won the FedEx Cup in September, finished in a tie for seventh after a final round of 67. Nursing a recurring wrist problem, Stenson is looking forward to the challenge next week, while at the same time ensuring that no long-term damage is done.
“I'm still happy with the Top 10 and thanks to a few of the other guys, yeah, I've still got the lead heading into the last week,” he said.
“My preparation is going to be less than I would have liked (due to his wrist injury), but again, I've played Jumeirah Golf Estates so many times, so hopefully I shouldn't have to be further behind than he need to due to that.
“So the most important thing is to get healthy long-term, and be able to play next week.”
That’s all ahead in a few days, but this week was all about Victor Dubuisson, who claimed the first victory in what may very well become an extremely lucrative career.