RIFFA, Bahrain — South African Dylan Frittelli gained his first DP World Tour occasion in additional than six years after making three birdies in his final six holes for a two-stroke victory on the Bahrain Championship on Sunday.
Frittelli began the ultimate spherical main by two however was out of first place after enjoying the primary 12 holes in 2 over par. He bounced again with back-to-back birdies on the par 5s at Nos. 13 and 14 and rolled in a 40-footer for birdie at No. 16 to regain his two-stroke benefit.
Frittelli parred the final two holes for a 1-under 71 and completed on 13 below general for his first win because the Mauritius Open in December 2017. His solely different win on the European tour got here that yr, on the Lyoness Open six months earlier, although he has gained since on the PGA Tour on the John Deere Traditional in 2019.
That was his rookie season on the PGA Tour however he struggled there in 2023, lacking the lower or withdrawing from 23 of his 27 begins and shedding his full enjoying privileges.
“Final yr there have been a few spots the place I felt like giving the sport up, to be trustworthy,” mentioned Frittelli, who has fallen to No. 434 on this planet rankings. “I used to be searching for one thing else.
“I discovered some resolve on the finish of final yr, obtained some good work from my physio and my coaches and trainers, and glad I persevered.”
Frittelli mentioned he felt below strain all through his remaining spherical and was solely snug when standing over a 12-footer for birdie on the final, holding a two-shot lead.
“I used to be swinging it nice all week after which impulsively I couldn’t hit it on the planet within the Sunday spherical. Glad I managed to have the resolve,” he mentioned.
Jesper Svensson of Sweden (70) and Zander Lombard of South Africa (68) had been tied for second place. With Ockie Strydom in a two-way tie for fourth an extra two strokes again, there have been three South Africans within the high 5.
The Bahrain Championship is a brand new event on the European tour schedule and the fourth of 5 straight weeks to begin 2024 within the Center East. The tour was final in Bahrain for the debut of the now-defunct Volvo Match of Champions in 2011.
