M.J. Daffue of South Africa emerged winner of the inaugural DP World PGTI Open at the Classic Golf and Country Club by one shot on Sunday. Image courtesy HotelPlanner Tour/Getty Images.
By Rahul Banerji
South African M.J. Daffue produced a bogey-free final round to seal a second HotelPlanner Tour title in two months on a thrilling final day of the DP World PGTI Open on Sunday.
Overnight leader Daffue started with a four-stroke advantage and signed for a 3 under par 69 to reach 21 under and finish one shot clear of DP World PGTI winners Jhared Hack and Saptak Talwar.
The victory sent Daffue (70-61-67-69) to the top of the season-long Road to Mallorca Rankings, the HotelPlanner Tour said.
“I’m really pleased,” the 37-year-old said. “The first one gets something off your back, but this time, I believed I could do it.
“I knew I was comfortable, and I have brought some momentum from the last few weeks.
“I’ve been patient. I’ve been working with a sports psychologist, and my moto has been ‘dogged, determination and patience’ and that helped me out there today.”
Daffue had six holes of his third round remaining when he returned to Classic Golf & Country Club on Sunday morning, finishing with a 67 and total 18 under par after round three.
A slow start to his final round saw him card eight straight pars before a solitary birdie at the ninth was followed by an eagle on the par five fourteenth.
Tricky greens
“It wasn’t easy. The greens were a bit tricky, but I made some great swings, and my eagle was probably my only putt outside of six feet today.
“Momentum is a funny thing; it comes and goes. I have never shot an eleven under in a tournament, so all facets of my play were going well. I was putting well earlier on in the week, and I adjusted well to the course.”
America’s Hack (68-68-67-65) and Indorama Ventures Open winner Talwar (68-66-66-68) shared second place on 20 under par, one shot ahead of Austria’s Lucas Nemecz.
Daffue had started the third round tied for the lead with Rashid Khan, continued his impressive form into day three, delivering six birdies and a solitary bogey to reach 16 under par for the week.
His round was halted with six holes to play, with the start of play having been delayed (fog) and later suspended due to darkness.
PGTI’s 2025 Order of Merit winner and now DP World Tour regular Yuvraj Sandhu (69-67-65-71) took a share of sixth place on 16 under 272.
Ravi Kumar (69-68-67-69) made it three Indians in the top 10, finishing tied for ninth on 15 under 273.
Also read: Rashid, Daffue are clubhouse leaders at DP World PGTI Open
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