Perez used to madcap finishes after holding on for Abu Dhabi Championship glory

By Sports Desk January 22, 2023

Victor Perez held on to claim a one-stroke victory at the Abu Dhabi HSBC Championship and then claimed the crazy finish was all in a day's work.

The Frenchman posted a final-round 66 to finish on 18 under and edge out Lee Min-woo and Sebastian Soderberg, but had a nervous wait to confirm his win after a bogey on the 18th hole.

Neither the Australian nor the Swede could reel him back in the end, handing Perez his third DP World Tour title and first since May last year at the Dutch Open.

Victory pushes him to the top of the Race to Dubai rankings, with the 30-year-old looking forward to a campaign that has him in the conversation for a Ryder Cup spot.

"It's a great year ahead," he said. "There's a lot of big things coming up. I've had a really good off-season, I've worked really hard, and it's just great.

"I'm just delighted to finish on top. It was a crazy finish, but I'm used to that by now. Hopefully I can make it a little easier for the next one."

Padraig Harrington came home fourth after closing with a 67 to finish 16 under, with the 51-year-old falling short of becoming the oldest winner in tour history.

While Perez took the accolades, the final day at Yas Links also delivered two hole-in-one finishes, with Dan Bradbury and Tyrrell Hatton holing out at the 17th and 13th respectively. 

Related items

  • Thomas wants Woods' seal of approval at Hero World Challenge Thomas wants Woods' seal of approval at Hero World Challenge

    Justin Thomas would be thrilled to gain the seal of approval from Tiger Woods by going on to win the Hero World Challenge.

    Woods, a 15-time major champion, is hosting the event at the Albany Golf Club in the Bahamas.

    After three rounds, Thomas holds a one-shot lead over world number one Scottie Scheffler, who squandered a birdie putt on the 18th and sits at 16 under par.

    Asked how he would feel to receive the trophy from Woods, Thomas said: "Yeah, yeah, that would be great.

    "I've had a couple of opportunities in the past, but it's something I'd love to check off my box in my career at some point."

    Thomas has not won a title since lifting the PGA Championship in May 2022, but is in a strong position after carding a bogey-free, six-under-par 66 on Saturday.

    "I've been progressing nicely, and have been working on all the right things," the American said.

    "I feel like I've been seeing signs of improvement, which is what you want and that's all I can do.

    "I can't control everybody else or what’s going on, I've just got to keep playing as good as I possibly can and hope that it's enough come Sunday."

    Tom Kim was one of Saturday's big moves, as he went up seven places to third after scoring 62, with a double-bogey on the 17th quashing his hopes of equalling the course record of 61.

    Kim sits two shots back from Thomas and two ahead of Keegan Bradley on 13 under, with Akshay Bhatia and Sahith Theegala tied for fifth a shot further back.

    Cameron Young, who was the first-round leader, is down in 12th on five under, after he only managed a par score of 72.

  • Scheffler leads after second round of Hero World Challenge Scheffler leads after second round of Hero World Challenge

    World number one Scottie Scheffler enjoyed a two-shot lead after the second round of the Hero World Challenge as he looks to defend the title. 

    The 28-year-old American made eight birdies in a bogey-free round to finish on 13 under at the Albany Golf Club in the Bahamas.

    Scheffler was three shots back of Cameron Young after the first round of the event that has a field of 20 players and is hosted by Tiger Woods. 

    "[I was] just trying to keep my foot down on the pedal," said Scheffler.

    "It was good. I did a lot of good things. The front nine was really nice and then the back nine I felt like I did some good things as well."

    Justin Thomas and Akshay Bhatia are joint-second on 11 under, with Keegan Bradley two shots back and sitting in fourth place.

    "I didn't feel like I had to grind on the majority of my birdie putts, a lot of them were tap-ins or whatnot," Thomas said. 

    "If I can just iron or wedge it just a little closer to the hole and get some putts to go in, I feel like I've got a really good round out there this weekend."

    Sepp Straka and Im Sung-jae are tied for fifth place after shooting 68s, while Young, who was the leader after the opening day, slipped down to share 10th place.

  • Sidney Wolf to be inducted into  Caribbean Golf Association's Hall of Fame Sidney Wolf to be inducted into Caribbean Golf Association's Hall of Fame

    The Caribbean Golf Association (CGA)has announced the induction of Sidney Wolf into the CGA Hall of Fame. The ceremony recognizing Wolf’s decades-long dedication and significant contributions to the sport of golf in the Caribbean will take place prior to the PRGA’s 70th anniversary celebration gala on December 13 at 6pm at the Hilton Garden Inn Hotel in San Juan, Puerto Rico.

    Sidney Wolf has been a cornerstone of Caribbean golf since his first appearance at the Hoerman Cup in Jamaica in 1989. Serving as president of the CGA intermittently since 1995 and leading the Puerto Rico Golf Association (PRGA) for nearly three decades, Wolf has played a pivotal role in promoting and developing golf throughout the region.


    Wolf's involvement with the CGA began as Vice President in 1995, supporting various presidents before stepping into the leadership role himself. Notably, in 2009, he initiated the process to establish the CGA Hall of Fame, further demonstrating his commitment to recognizing and celebrating excellence in Caribbean golf. His unwavering commitment has seen him attend nearly all CGA Championships and assist in conducting these events. His leadership has been instrumental in chairing and hosting numerous significant tournaments, including four Caribbean Amateur Golf Championships (CAGCs), five Caribbean Junior Golf Championships (CAJGCs) in Puerto Rico, several CGA Classics in Puerto Rico, the United States, and the Dominican Republic, as well as two Caribbean Cups.

    Beyond organizing events, Wolf has been crucial in securing attractive rates and packages, significantly reducing costs, and ensuring the CGA's financial stability. His fundraising efforts, particularly through securing raffle prizes, have bolstered the association’s financial health. Wolf has emphasized the importance of developing local talent in tournament administration and rules.

    In recognition of his extensive contributions, Wolf's induction into the CGA Hall of Fame is a testament to his dedication to the sport. His achievements also include induction into the Puerto Rico Sports Hall of Fame and the PRGA Hall of Fame. He is a respected member of the Royal and Ancient Golf Club of St. Andrews and has served on the USGA Regional Affairs committee since 1996.

    Internationally, Wolf has made significant impacts as well. He chaired the World Amateur Team Championships in 2004, worked with the PGA TOUR Latin America and the PGA TOUR, and played a pivotal role in hosting the first USGA Championship outside the US mainland in 2022 and the Latin American Amateur Championship in 2023. He co-founded the Americas Golf Association and the Copa de las Americas and currently serves as Chairman of the Future Sites Committee for the International Golf Federation (IGF).

    Reflecting on his career, Wolf credits the collaborative efforts of past CGA presidents and dedicated regional leaders for the association’s success. Despite the sacrifices and long hours, Wolf's service has always been about giving back to the sport he loves. His legacy is marked by relentless dedication, visionary leadership, and a profound impact on golf in the Caribbean and beyond.

     

© 2024 SportsMaxTV All Rights Reserved.