Garrick Higgo wins Gran Canaria Lopesan Open after seeing off Max Kieffer

South Africa’s Garrick Higgo held off a determined challenge from Max Kieffer to win his second European Tour title in the Gran Canaria Lopesan Open.
Higgo took a two-shot lead into the final round at Meloneras Golf and the 21-year-old left-hander carded a flawless closing 63 to finish 25 under par.
Kieffer, who lost out in a five-hole play-off in the Austrian Open last week, finished three shots adrift following a final round of 62, which included an eagle and seven birdies.
Victory for @garrick_higgo 🏆
He wins his second Tour title at the inaugural #GranCanariaLopesanOpen pic.twitter.com/hCpKLvA7tV
— The European Tour (@EuropeanTour) April 25, 2021
Higgo made the ideal start to the final round as he followed a birdie on the second by chipping in for an eagle on the fourth, with birdies on the ninth and 10th giving him a four-shot cushion.
Kieffer kept the pressure on by driving the green on the short par-four 10th to set up an eagle and four birdies in the next six holes took the German to within two shots of the lead, but Higgo crucially got up and down to save par on the 17th and finished in style with a birdie on the last.
“It’s unreal, I can’t put it into words,” Higgo, who won the Open de Portugal in September last year, told Sky Sports. “It feels amazing.
A nervy up and down. @garrick_higgo has a two shot lead going down the last. #GranCanariaLopesanOpen pic.twitter.com/XKfYdmMpfk
— The European Tour (@EuropeanTour) April 25, 2021
“The birdies on nine and 10 were big for me in terms of my confidence. But it wasn’t over until the last hole really, I knew anything could happen especially with the wind coming up. It was a bit stressful.
“My game feels good. I’ve worked really, really hard with my coach and everyone back home.”
Denmark’s Jeff Winther chipped in for an eagle on the 18th to secure third place on 21 under, two shots ahead of England’s Sam Horsfield.
Scotland’s Connor Syme shared fifth place with former Ryder Cup player Thorbjorn Olesen after birdies on the 17th and 18th repaired some of the damage caused by a quadruple-bogey eight on the 14th, where he drove out of bounds.
Latest
-
PGA Championship
Rory McIlroy on top but not getting ahead of himself at US PGA Championship
The Northern Irishman carded seven birdies and two bogeys in an opening 65 to record his lowest round in a major since the 2011 US Open.
-
News
UPS delivers a sponsorship setback to Lee Westwood
The company has ended its deal in an apparent response to Westwood’s involvement with a series of Saudi-backed events.
-
PGA Championship
Tyrell Hatton shares slow play fears as US PGA begins at Southern Hills
This week’s course layout in Tulsa looks set to exacerbate the issue.
-
PGA Championship
‘Recharged’ Shane Lowry excited for week ahead at US PGA Championship
Lowry has finished no worse than 35th in his nine starts this season.
-
PGA Championship
Jordan Spieth relishing playing alongside Tiger Woods in career grand slam bid
Spieth has had five attempts to complete the grand slam since adding the 2017 Open title to the Masters and US Open he won in 2015.
-
News
‘He has his opinion, I have mine’ – Tiger Woods on Phil Mickelson controversy
Woods said Mickelson’s comments about the PGA Tour have been “polarising”.
-
PGA Championship
Rory McIlroy hoping relaxed approach pays dividends at US PGA Championship
McIlroy did his research via videos posted online before travelling to Oklahoma on Monday.
-
PGA Championship
Tiger Woods believes he can scale another mountain and win US PGA Championship
The 46-year-old finished 47th in the year’s first major, his first top-level event since suffering severe leg injuries.
-
News
Rory McIlroy was pretty sure Saudi-backed breakaway would not happen
The Northern Irishman is waiting to see how it plays out.
-
PGA Championship
Graeme Storm recalls ‘surreal’ US PGA adventure after battle with Rory McIlroy
His famous victory over McIlroy came on the third extra hole in the 2017 South African Open in Johannesburg