Joost Luiten clinches his maiden European Tour title at Iskandar Johor Open
Dutchman Joost Luiten posted his maiden victory at the European Tour at the Iskandar Johor Open this week, pulling in one of the finest rounds in the heat of the game. The event was reduced to 54 holes after three days of intermittent rain and much of the
second round was delayed because of the course flooding. Luiten took over a sturdy Daniel Chopra of Sweden who displayed exceptional form in the opening rounds of the event.
Heading into the final round with a deficit of four shots, Luiten carded six-under, 65 at the rain-softened Horizon Hills Golf Club to edge past Chopra by one stroke. The three days of play saw Chopra and Luiten wrestle each other for the lead.
“I don’t believe it yet,” said Luiten. “I think when you’re in position to win you always have some nerves, but I think that’s normal. My caddie [Martin Gray] said to me when we had four holes left to play, ‘the only guy you’re going to lose to is yourself’,
and I think he was right. I just had to play my game and let the other guys chase me. If they do chase me, well done, we come back. But it was good enough so I’m really happy.”
Luiten has had an impressive season this year and pushed himself in contention several times. In the 14 European Tour events he has played this year, he soared to top-15 no fewer than eight times. He has now a bright chance to split the Race to Dubai points
at the end of the season.
Chopra, who led the second round of the event, was fairly disappointed with his double-bogeys in the final round, which pushed his down the leaderboard for a 70.
“I’m learning to stay patient, which is good,” said 37-years-old Chopra.
Chopra, despite of his 15-years long tenure on the European Tour, is still in search of his maiden title.
The struggling Padraig Harrington, the most decorated player in the event, saw a rare resurgence at the closing of the season and after impressive rounds of 64, 67 and 69, the Irishman closed for a joint third alongside Ryhs Davies and James Morrison.
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