Daniel Gavins finds water TWICE on 18 - but still wins Ras Al Khaimah Champs
Daniel Gavins headed into the 72nd hole with a two-shot lead at Al Hamra Golf Club, but then the carnage ensued as the Englishman held on for a second DP World Tour win.
Daniel Gavins secured the Ras Al Khaimah Championship title on the DP World Tour after surviving not one but two scares on the 18th hole at Al Hamra Golf Club.
Gavins, who is now a two-time winner on the DP World Tour, found the water twice on the long par-5 in a healthy lead, but a monstrous 25-foot putt up on the green helped to seal the deal by one shot.
The 31-year-old is projected to rise to 24th in the Race to Dubai rankings after securing a narrow victory over Alexander Bjork who, in hindsight, only needed a par on the final hole to force a playoff.
Gavins began the final round two shots behind Zander Lombard, but the Englishman made a staggering six birdies in his first eight holes. Despite making a bogey on the 9th hole, Gavins reached 19-under and was now two shots ahead of Matthieu Pavon with the back nine to go.
After an errant drive on the 12th hole, Gavins splashed out from the sandy wasteland to the fairway which led to his third bogey of the day. He now held a one-shot advantage over Bjork who birdied the 11th to reach 17-under.
Drama at the last! @DanielGavins finds the water AGAIN.#RakGolfChamps https://t.co/yoXm4ACX3s pic.twitter.com/8a9dQWT79u
— DP World Tour (@DPWorldTour) February 5, 2023
WOW!
After finding the water twice, @DanielGavins makes a 26ft putt for the clubhouse lead! #RakGolfChamps pic.twitter.com/8VeJh7CuSd— DP World Tour (@DPWorldTour) February 5, 2023
After two important birdies on holes 14 and 15, Gavins made two steely pars on 16 and 17 and had the look of the winner until he reached the 18th tee box.
He sent his first ball sailing to the right and into the water as Bjork had a chance of making a birdie on the 72nd hole, a 576-yard par-5. His second tee shot found the middle of the fairway.
But after a disappointing approach to the green, Bjork incredibly three-putted to make a bogey to card a 68. Gavins now had a three-shot cushion, but the drama didn't end there as he found the water again with his fourth shot.
After taking a drop, he pitched up to 25 feet. Amongst all the chaos of the final stretch, Gavins' putting didn't let him down. He sensationally holed the putt for a double bogey which took him to 17-under and a score of 69.
He had just one more landmine to avoid. Lombard was two shots back in the middle of the 18th fairway and he set up a superb eagle opportunity with an arrow approach from 252 yards.
The South African didn't hole the 23-footer and Gavins could finally celebrate his first win since capturing the ISPS Handa World Invitational in August 2021.
