2020 European Tour: Recapping the start of the season
By Matt Coles
Alfred Dunhill Championship
Just four days after the finale of the 2019 season, which concluded with the DP World Tour Championship in Dubai, the 2020 campaign got underway in South Africa.
The Alfred Dunhill Championship was the first event of the new season, with Leopard Creek GC playing host to the tournament, which saw a packed home field. However, it would be an experienced Spaniard that took the victory.
Pablo Larrazabal took the first title of the new campaign, having been inside the top three at the end of all four days, including holding the lead at the end of both Friday’s and Saturday’s action.
The Spaniard carded rounds of 66, 69 and 70 to lead by three shots ahead of the final round in Malelane, but it would not be plain sailing on Sunday.
He had been suffering from horrendous blisters all week, and at one point during his fourth round, he actually started walking the fairways without his golf shoes, to try and curb the levels of pain he was feeling.
He dropped back into the pack going into the final stretch, but Larrazabal was able to birdie three of his last four holes to win the Alfred Dunhill Championship.
The victory was a special one, as he claimed his fifth European Tour title, but his first in over four years. With the win, he also took the top spot on the Race to Dubai leaderboard, where he would stay until after the Christmas break.
Alfred Dunhill Championship Leaderboard:
1 (-8): Pablo Larrazabal (ESP)
2 (-7): Joel Sjöholm (SWE)
T3 (-6): Wil Besseling (NED), Branden Grace (RSA), Charl Schwartzel (RSA)
Race to Dubai Standings (after 1/46 events):
1: Pablo Larrazabal (ESP) – 460.0
2: Joel Sjoholm (SWE) – 305.0
T3: Wil Besseling (NED) – 141.6
T3: Branden Grace (RSA) – 141.6
T3: Charl Schwartzel (RSA) – 141.6