Viktor Hovland Stages Final Round Comeback To Secure Dubai Title

After three-putting the 15th green, Hovland had more or less given up his chances of securing a first Rolex Series title. However, a birdie, eagle, birdie finish catapulted the 24-year-old into a share of the lead as he headed to the clubhouse. 

Setting the target at 12-under-par, he was joined by Richard Bland, with the Englishman producing back-to-back birdies at the 17th and 18th to share the top spot.

Their efforts appeared to be in vain though, with Rory McIlroy needing just one birdie over the last two holes to jump the duo to the title. However, a scrappy par at the short 17th was followed by a huge mistake at the par-5 last! Faced with 265-yards for his second, the four-time Major champion went for glory when perhaps a lay-up was more suitable.

Blocking his fairway wood into the water, he would then fail to get up and down and join Hovland and Bland in the playoff. A huge error that will likely live with McIlroy for some time.

In the playoff, it was Hovland who prevailed, with the young Norwegian defeating Bland with a smart birdie at the iconic 18th. After rolling in the winning putt, he straight away apologised to Tim Barter, Bland's coach, who was conducting the interview for Sky Sports. "I honestly didn't think this was possible going into today", said Hovland.

"I knew I had to shoot a really low number and a lot of things had to go my way, but I'm thankful that it did. I was fuming after the three-putt at the 15th. I thought that was it really, but I knew I had to finish off well to get a nice position for the week."

Beginning the final day, Hovland was part of eight Ryder Cup players who were within six shots of overnight leader, Justin Harding. However, a front nine 32 on a day where scoring was at a minimal, put the the 24-year-old comfortably into the top-10.

Hovland though would struggle to replicate that form over the beginning of the back nine, with a three-putt bogey on the 15th dropping him to eight-under-par for the tournament.

That mistake seemed the kick the 24-year-old into life, with a lengthy birdie putt at the 16th being followed by another lengthy eagle putt at the driveable 17th. He wasn't done there though, as he bombed his drive over the corner and played a solid iron shot into the 72nd hole.

Two-putting for the birdie to set the clubhouse target, he was soon joined by Bland, who also produced some clutch putting himself over the closing few holes. The 48-year-old, who famously claimed his first DP World Tour title in his 478th start, rolled in a 15-foot putt at the last to get to the 12-under-par total.

After watching McIlroy dump one into the water at the 18th, it was Hovland and Bland who headed back to the tee for playoff holes. The Englishman, who is double the age of Hovland, was the first to play away and struck his tee shot crisply, finding the centre of the fairway at the dogleg-left par-5.

Hovland would follow his opponent and then take the advantage with the approach shots. Striking a fairway wood, his second found the green, whilst Bland's found an old divot just to the left of the putting surface.

As Bland rolled his chip to six-foot, Hovland produced another super lag-putt, leaving a tap-in for birdie and forcing his opponent to hole, what was, a fiddly left to right putt. Unfortunately, Bland couldn't react, leaving Hovland to tap-in and secure his third victory in five global starts and also third spot in the world rankings.