European Tour Release, 27 May 2019: Bernd Wiesberger won his fifth European Tour title after a thrilling final day battle with Robert MacIntyre at the Made in Denmark presented by FREJA. SSP Chawrasia produced his best round in several months, firing three birdies on either side for a six-under 65. That effort was enough to help him finish in T18.
The Austrian started the day a shot clear of his playing partner at Himmerland Golf & Spa Resort but the duo could not be separated after 15 holes, with both men producing some stunning golf.
Wiesberger hit a wonderful tee shot to birdie the par three 16th and, with MacIntyre going out of bounds off the 17th tee, the 33-year-old took a two-shot lead up the 18th.
He then made a bogey on the last after finding a hazard off the tee to sign for a 66, a 14 under par total, and a one-shot victory as his Scottish rival made a par.
Frenchman Romain Langasque carded a 66 to finish at 11 under, two shots clear of Ireland’s Paul Dunne, Spaniard Pablo Larrazábal, English pair Chris Paisley and Oliver Wilson, and German Max Schmitt.
Wiesberger was out for seven months last year due to a wrist injury but is now back in the winner’s circle in his 13th event since making his comeback on the 2019 Race to Dubai.
“I didn’t expect it all, I had a rough year last year. Winning is never easy,” he said. “It’s up there. Thinking about what was going on in the last year.
“I had so many great people helping me and getting me back to where I am right now. I’ve had so much support, it’s been amazing, and I’m proud to pay it back that way. I’m so thankful to so many people who have been there for me in the last year.
“It’s been such a great week here, I’ve enjoyed myself so much. I’ve loved the way I’ve started playing.”
For European Challenge Tour graduate MacIntyre, it is a second consecutive runner up finish in just his 15th European Tour event.
Wiesberger started the day a shot clear of MacIntyre and when he put an approach to ten feet at the first and holed from 25 feet on the third, he was three clear.
The leader’s drive went just 156 yards on the fourth and he found trouble with his second and failed to hit the green with his third,surrendering a double bogey and the solo lead as MacIntyre put his second to five feet.
There was briefly a four way tie for the lead as Matthias Schwab and Larrazábal made a move but MacIntyre played the par five fifth in textbook fashion and Wiesberger got up and down brilliantly from the long grass as the duo edged ahead.
Wiesberger’s bounceback from the double was complete at the sixth after his tee shot rolled off the bank to six feet to set up a second consecutive birdie but an excellent approach to the seventh put MacIntyre back in a tie.
Both the leaders got on the par five eighth in two for birdies but Wiesberger jumped two clear on the 11th as he holed a pitch from 66 yards for an eagle on the par five.
There was then a two shot swing on the 13th as Wiesberger surrendered a stroke after a poor bunker shot and MacIntyre holed from 12 feet to share the lead again.
MacIntyre brushed the edge with a long eagle putt on the driveable 14th while Wiesberger had to get up and down but they both made birdies and it was now truly a two horse race.
When the leaders reached the signature 16th, Wiesberger left himself a very short putt on the par three and edged ahead again, playing to the crowd on Himmerland Hill as he strode to the 17th.
MacIntyre sent his tee shot a long way left on the 17th for a bogey before Wiesberger returned the favour after going right off the last.
Langasque birdied the fifth and tenth and, while he dropped a shot on the 11th, he bounced back with birdies on the 12th, 13th, 14th and 17th.
Paisley matched the lowest round of the week with a 65 to sit in the group a shot ahead of Schwab, Alejandro Cañizares and Matthew Southgate.
