Unheralded Frenchman Gregory Bourdy survived Rory McIlroy’s back-nine charge to win the UBS Hong Kong Open by two shots from the Northern Irishman yesterday afternoon.
Bourdy completed the tournament at 19-under-par 261, two shots better than McIlroy, who finished runner-up for the second straight year but had the consolation of going to the top of the European Tour’s money list.
McIlroy’s second-place finish was enough to move him to the summit of the Order of Merit with just the Dubai World Championship remaining in the season.
Bourdy, who never relinquished the lead throughout the final round, proved to be unflappable despite the rising pressure exerted by the 20-year-old McIlroy over the closing holes of the tournament.
It was the Frenchman’s third European Tour title of his career.
“I’ve had a fantastic week,” he said. “It’s my best golf week and my best golf day today.”
“I played very consistent. I missed a few putts at the start of the round but I stayed confident. It was amazing,” Bourdy said.
“It’s my mother’s birthday today plus I needed this victory to go to Dubai. There are so many things, my girlfriend is here as well, so it’s great,” he said.
Bourdy played consistently to maintain the lead he had at the start of the day, moving to 18-under thanks to birdies at the fifth and sixth.
A birdie at the 10th returned the Frenchman to 18-under after he had dropped a shot at the eighth and he improved his score by an additional shot with a birdie at the par-five 13th.
The tournament swung once and for all in Bourdy’s favor at the 17th, however, when McIlroy’s charge finally came to an end.
After rattling a birdie attempt more than three feet past the hole, the Ulsterman missed the return putt for par, forcing him to settle for second once again around Fanling as Bourdy closed out in impressive fashion with a 67.
Despite finishing runner-up again, McIlroy said he was more than satisfied with his performance throughout the weekend, carding a 64 on the final day.
“I played lovely, really, really well,” he said. “I thought I needed a low one and I went out with a mindset if I shot anything below a 65 I might have a chance, but Gregory’s played very, very well.”
“If I had birdied one of the last two holes I might have given myself a chance but that’s the way it goes. I’m a bit disappointed at the minute but I’ve got a good consolation in that I’m back to the top of the money list,” McIlroy said.
“There’s still a lot that can go on next week but my objective this week was to come out and win the Hong Kong Open and I’ve come up just short again for the second year in a row, but I gave it my best shot and that’s all I can do,” he said.
France’s Francois Molinari and Dutchman Robert-Jan Derksen were a joint third, a shot behind McIlroy, with Raphael Jacquelin and England’s Ian Poulter two shots further back.
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