Golf Betting
The European Tour made a pair of international stops over the weekend, welcoming two first-time winners in Joost Luiten and Garth Mulroy.
Luiten earned his victory at the Iskandar Johor Open in Malaysia. The Dutchman was one stroke better than Sweden’s Daniel Chopra, finishing 15-under on the strength of a final-round 65. The event was shortened to 54 holes due to persistent rains, which caused numerous delays at Horizon Hills G&CC.
“I don’t believe it yet,” Luiten said after wrapping up the €242,581 first prize. “My caddie (Martin Gray) said to me when we had four holes left to play, ‘The only guy you’re going to lose to is yourself,’ and I think he was right. I just had to play my game and let the other guys chase me.”
Among those who couldn’t track Luiten down were Padraig Harrington, James Morrison and Rhys Davies, all tied third on -13. Chopra, meanwhile, held a four-shot lead at the 36-hole mark, but couldn’t keep pace with a finishing 70.
Mulroy claimed the Alfred Dunhill Championship in his native South Africa, holding on for a two-shot victory over Scotland’s George Murray. Tied with Murray down the stretch, Mulroy birdied Leopard Creek CC’s 15th and 16th holes to leap ahead for good.
Mulroy was sensational throughout the week, carding rounds of 69-68-64-68 for a 19-under-par total and €158,500 winner’s share. Murray was his only close pursuer on -17, while Felipe Aguilar, George Coetzee, Jaco Van Zyl and Peter Whiteford tied third on -13.
South Africa keeps the spotlight this week as native sons Ernie Els and Retief Goosen headline the South African Open. Several European Tour stars – including Ian Poulter, Rory McIlroy and Graeme McDowell — will play for their home countries in the Omega Mission Hills World Cup in China.
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