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ABU DHABI, United Arab Emirates (AP) — The best shot of Victor Perez’s life may have kicked off the best year of the Frenchman’s golf career.
Perez holed out from a bunker for birdie on the 17th and shot a 6-under 66 to win by one shot at the Abu Dhabi Championship on Sunday to earn his The third and easily the largest DP World Championship tour title.
“It was probably the best shot I ever hit,” Perez said.
In Yas Island Links’ wild finale, the drama isn’t over yet.
Perez had a two-shot lead on the par-5 18th tee shot into a fairway bunker, almost in the water with his second shot, and two-putted for bogey.
Min Woo Lee, who was playing in the back group, needed eagle on the final shot to get into a playoff, and his third shot just over the hole before rolling down the hill a foot from the cup. Only then can Perez watch TV in the scorer’s cabin and truly celebrate winning some $1.5 million in one of the tour’s top events.
It could be a life-changing victory for Perez, who climbs to second place in the European Ryder Cup qualifying standings. At least it looks likely that there are captains who choose to play against the United States in places other than Rome.
Perez was on the verge of tears when asked how the win had affected his career.
“There’s a lot of big things going on, I had a really good offseason, I worked really hard…” an emotional Perez said, before walking away and covering his face with his hands.
Perez shot 18 under for the tournament, with Sebastian Soderbergh (67) and Lee (68) tied for second. His previous victories on tour came at the Dunhill Links Championship in 2019 and the Dutch Open last May.
After the third round, Lee was tied for the lead with major champions Sean Lowry and Francisco Molinari, but the back nine faded on the back nine.
Lowry, in particular, tied for 28th with a tough 76 after a bogey-bogey-triple bogey-bogey. Molinari shot a 71 and tied for fifth.
Perez birdied four of his first seven holes and twice led by two early in the final round.
He did it again after playing the par-3 17th. With a one-shot lead at that stage, Perez’s tee shot came short and landed in a green bunker. His second shot came about 10 feet from the hole and back, Perez jumped out of the sand and chest-butted his caddy.
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