Tyrrell Hatton lives his dream at BMW PGA; Shubhankar finishes T48

A lifelong dream turned real for Hatton who took a commanding victory at the Wentworth Golf Club. Shubhankar ended the week with a pair of birdies

224
Tyrrell Hatton - Getty Images - BMW PGA Championship

Home favourite Tyrrell Hatton realised his boyhood dream as he won the 2020 BMW PGA Championship by four shots to secure his third Rolex Series title. Shubhankar Sharma put up a spirited battle again, working his way to a 73 after slipping to three-over through 14 holes. He made birdies on the last two holes to finish the week in T48.

Earlier in the week, Englishman Hatton spoke of his desire to win this event having visited Wentworth Golf Club as a fan with his father when he was five years old.

And although he was pushed all the way by Victor Perez in a tense final round battle, Hatton produced a short game masterclass to put his name alongside the European Tour greats who have won this iconic trophy.

Hatton, who moves into the top ten on the Official World Golf Ranking after claiming his fifth European Tour title, finished the tournament on 19 under par after making six birdies and a single bogey in his closing 67.

Perez finished alone in second on 15 under after bogeys on the 13th and 17th saw his challenge fade.

Race to Dubai leader Patrick Reed and Englishman Andy Sullivan were in a share of third another shot further back after finishing their final rounds strongly.

Hatton began the day three shots clear of his nearest challengers but was caught early on after opening his round with four straight pars while tournament debutant Perez birdied the second before rolling in his 22 foot eagle putt at the long fourth to grab a share of the lead on 14 under par.

Hatton edged back in front with his first birdie of the day from 12 feet on the par three fifth before revealing in an on-course interview that he had been more nervous today than he was for his Ryder Cup debut in 2018.

In the group ahead, Perez span his approach into the seventh green back to within two feet of the flag to set up a tap-in birdie and rejoin Hatton in the lead.

After pulling off a nerveless par save having been in bunker trouble on the seventh, Hatton closed his front nine with a birdie putt from 25 feet to regain the outright lead on 16 under.

Hatton holed another lengthy birdie effort – this time from 35 feet – on the tenth to establish a two shot cushion.

However, Perez instantly cut the gap to a single shot after spinning his approach to the 11th back to within two feet of the hole to set up a birdie.

Hatton
Hatton then made it three gains in a row from close range at the 11th after replicating Perez’s approach shot.

The Frenchman remained hot on his heels, sending his bunker shot at the long 12th to within a couple of feet before tapping in for another birdie to get to 17 under and close the gap to one.

Perez dropped his first shot of the day at the 13th to give Hatton a two stroke advantage once more, but the leader also made a bogey at the same hole after his three foot putt hit the hole but did not drop.

After just missing his birdie putt from around nine feet at the short 14th, Hatton made a gain with a lovely 12 foot effort at the 15th to return to 18 under.

The pendulum swung Hatton’s way when Perez made a bogey after getting into tree trouble at the 17th, handing the Englishman a three shot lead.

Hatton continued to create chances as he made his way down the stretch, narrowly missing his birdie tries at the 16th and 17th.

But he remained three in front as he arrived at the 18th tee and, despite almost mis-hitting his second shot into the water, he managed a closing birdie to complete a 67.