Dubuisson lifts Turkish Airlines Open title as McIlroy edges further ahead of Willett in Order of Merit

FRANCE'S Victor Dubuisson broke down in tears after producing a brilliant finish to win the Turkish Airlines Open for the second time in three years as Rory McIlroy's challenge fizzled out in Antalya.
Turkish Airlines Open winner Victor Dubuisson with the trophy (Picture: Getty Images).Turkish Airlines Open winner Victor Dubuisson with the trophy (Picture: Getty Images).
Turkish Airlines Open winner Victor Dubuisson with the trophy (Picture: Getty Images).

Dubuisson played his last eight holes in five under par to card a closing 66 and finish 22 under par, one shot ahead of South Africa's Jaco Van Zyl, with Thailand's Kiradech Aphibarnrat a shot further back.

World No 3 McIlroy began the day just a shot off the lead after three consecutive 67s, but could only manage a final round of 71 to finish in a tie for sixth.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

He has, however, stretched his lead at the top of the Race to Dubai standings on Sheffield's Danny Willett to almost 400,000 points with three events to play.

Willett shot 69 70 68 69 for a tie for 11th place. Birdies at four and six were wiped out by bogeys at eight and nine.

He carded three birdies on the back nine, which had yielded six to him on Saturday.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

His fellow Sheffielder Matt Fitzpatrick, recent winner of the British Masters, finished equal 26th (73 63 73 72).

Fitzpatrick was out in level par, retrieving the shot shed at the second with a birdie at the fourth.

Further birdies followed at 11 and 18, but they sandwiched bogeys at 12 and 13.

Dubuisson had been three off the lead after Aphibarnrat's sixth birdie of the day on the 10th, despite brilliantly saving par on the same hole with a pitch through the trees after taking a penalty drop when his wayward drive finished in a bush.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

The 25-year-old then chipped in for an eagle on the 11th and birdied the 15th and 17th to join van Zyl in the lead, before a massive drive on the 18th and superb approach to 10 feet.

Aphibarnrat almost chipped in for an eagle from over the green but missed from a matter of inches for his birdie, while van Zyl could also only make par.