Englishman Simon Dyson won the Dutch Open for the third time in six years on Sunday after shooting a fine final round of four-under-par 66.
The 33-year-old — who joins greats such as Seve Ballesteros and Bernhard Langer in winning the title three times — edged out compatriot David Lynn by a stroke.
Northern Ireland’s US Open champion Rory McIlroy shot a 68 to take third spot, while world No. 2 Lee Westwood shot a 66 like Dyson to jump from 18th spot to fifth.
Photo: Reuters
Dyson said it meant a lot to have his name lined up alongside the late Ballesteros and Langer.
“I’m absolutely delighted to be on the same trophy as names like those two,” said Dyson, who won the Irish Open earlier this season.
“It’s something special, a dream come true really. To win any title once is tough, but to win it three times is a fantastic feeling,” he said. “I started a bit shakily — my timing was just a little bit off — but after my bogey on 11, I played pretty flawless golf.”
Dyson did brilliantly to stave off McIlroy’s challenge as the exuberant 22-year-old fired in three early birdies, but failed to build on that and his two birdies on the final two holes were too little too late.
However, McIlroy was satisfied with his performance even though surprisingly it still leaves him without a win on the European Tour.
“It’s not been a bad two weeks,” said McIlroy, who finished third last weekend in the European Masters his first tournament since injuring his right wrist at the USPGA Championship last month. “To be able to give myself a chance when I didn’t have my best stuff I was quite pleased, but I should have made more of that fast start.”
Bayer 04 Leverkusen go into today’s match at TSG 1899 Hoffenheim stung from their first league defeat in 16 months. Leverkusen were beaten 3-2 at home by RB Leipzig before the international break, the first loss since May last year for the reigning league and cup champions. While any defeat, particularly against a likely title rival, would have disappointed coach Xabi Alonso, the way in which it happened would be most concerning. Just as they did in the Supercup against VfB Stuttgart and in the league opener to Borussia Moenchengladbach, Leverkusen scored first, but were pegged back. However, while Leverkusen rallied late to
The lights dimmed and the crowd hushed as Karoline Kristensen entered for her performance. However, this was no ordinary Dutch theater: The temperature was 80°C and the audience naked apart from a towel. Dressed in a swimsuit and to the tune of emotional music, the 21-year-old Kristensen started her routine, performed inside a large sauna, with a bed of hot rocks in the middle. For a week this month, a group of wellness practitioners, called “sauna masters,” are gathering at a picturesque health resort in the Netherlands to compete in this year’s Aufguss world sauna championships. The practice takes its name from a
Japanese players are moving to English soccer in record numbers and more look set to follow with clubs attracted by their quality, strong work ethic and value for money. Kaoru Mitoma is the standout talent of five Japanese players in the English Premier League, with eight more in the Championship and two in League One. Liverpool midfielder Wataru Endo, the captain of Japan, believes his compatriots are “being held in higher esteem” by English clubs compared with the past. “The staff at Liverpool ask me about lots of Japanese players, not necessarily with a view to a transfer, but just saying this or
Taiwan yesterday survived Bosnia and Herzegovina to win their Davis Cup World Group I tie at the Taipei Tennis Center. The tight series started on Saturday with world No. 123 Jason Tseng losing 3-6, 7-5, 6-4 to Mirza Basic in the opening singles matchup. However, teammate Tony Wu kept the tie even, dominating world No. 86 Damir Dzumhur 6-2, 6-1. Yesterday, 24-year-old Ray Ho and partner 25-year-old Hsu Yu-hsiou kept up the momentum, making short work of Basic and Nerman Fatic, winning 6-3, 6-4. Tseng then suffered another defeat, losing 6-4, 2-6, 6-2 to Dzumhur in a brutal match that lasted more than two