SUTTON COLDFIELD, England — Niklas Norgaard held his nerve after blasting three chip shots for double bogey, finishing with a birdie-par finish for an even-par 72 and a two-shot victory Sunday at the British Masters .
It was the first European Tour win for the 32-year-old from Denmark, and Norgaard had to sweat more than expected.
He started the last round at The Belfry with a four-goal lead. South African Thriston Lawrence was one shot off until a two-shot change on the par-3 12th, when Norgaard birdied and Lawrence bogeyed.
But it was almost undone on the par-5 15th. Norgaard was twice over the green and then took a shocking four chips to get to the green — two of which went just a few feet — and took a double bogey as his lead dropped to two shots.
Norgaard admitted he was nervous after his first win — “I almost woke up this morning,” he said — but not from the double bogey.
“I wasn’t nervous there. I’m just terrible at explosions,” he said. “The key was the putt on 17.”
On the par-5 17th, Norgaard was on the green twice when Lawrence had a long eagle attempt. The Dane blasted to 12 and holed the birdie putt. Lawrence could only two-putt for birdie and the lead remained at two down on 18.
“I made that show on the 15th hole and I thought, ‘Did I give it away?’ I’m very happy with the way it ended up here,” said Norgaard. He found the fairway on the 18th and two-putted without drama.
Norgaard finished at 16-under 272. Lawrence closed with a 70, while Denmark’s Rasmus Hojgaard took third with a 65.
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