MUSCAT, Oman (AP) - Joost Luiten of the Netherlands won the inaugural Oman Open on Sunday to break a title drought of nearly 17 months.
The 32-year-old Dutchman shot a 4-under 68 to finish on 16-under 272, two shots ahead of his friend, England’s Chris Wood (69).
It was Luiten’s sixth European Tour title and the first since the 2016 KLM Open.
Frenchman Julien Guerrier (71) virtually assured that he would not have to go to qualifying school for the 12th time with a third-place finish after a 13-under 275.
Luiten started with three birdies in his first four holes, but bogeys on the seventh and eighth set him back. On the back nine, he made three birdies, including a key one on the 16th, where he made a 30-foot putt.
“It feels great. I didn’t know what to expect when I came here but to play a course like this which is in great condition - it’s a great technical golf course as well - it was beyond my expectation and to hold the trophy is even better,” said Luiten, who is expected to rise to No. 65 in the new rankings on Monday.
“I had a great start, that’s what I was hoping for. I hit some nice ones in close and rolled in a couple of nice putts and that gets you in the right position, where you want to be.
“Unfortunately, I had a couple of bogeys as well on the front nine, but I recovered from that with a couple of nice birdies on the back nine and it was a good battle with Woody.”
Playing one group ahead, England’s Wood was right in the mix and tied with Luiten at 15-under when their fortunes went in opposite directions almost at the same time. On the 17th hole, Wood drove his tee shot into the hazard left and could do no more than chip his ball out for a bogey. Luiten, meanwhile, drained his 30-footer birdie putt on the 16th for a two-shot swing.
Recovering his form after a series of disappointments, Wood was let down by the loss and said: “It’s golf isn’t it? You are never happy.
“I played poorly for six or eight months. Would have never thought I would have put myself into contention. And when you do, you feel gutted when you don’t win. I am pretty down really, but in the grand scheme of things, when I reflect after a couple of days, I will think it is a big step in the right direction.”
Luiten’s win also got him into the top 10 in the Race to Dubai, securing him a start at the WGC-Mexico Championship in two weeks.
Frenchman Alexander Levy (70), who was hoping to finish in the top five to push into the top 10 in the Race to Dubai and grab the WGC-Mexico spot himself, did manage a joint fourth place at 11 under, but Luiten’s victory kept him 11th.
The European Tour next moves to Doha for the Qatar Masters starting on Thursday.
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