Victor Dubuisson takes Turkish title

Victor Dubuisson kept his cool in the face of some formidable, high profile opposition to claim his first European Tour title at the Turkish Airlines Open.

The 23-year-old Frenchman, who started the final day with a five-shot lead, maintained his composure to win the penultimate event of the European Tour season, despite the best efforts of a chasing pack that included Tiger Woods, Ian Poulter and Justin Rose.

A nerveless round of 69 gave the former European Amateur champion a two-shot win over Wales’ Jamie Donaldson, with Rose and Woods a further two shots adrift in a tie for third. Pouter shared fifth place with another Frenchman, Raphael Jacquelin, with Scotland’s Marc Warren in a three-way tie for seventh with Bernd Wiesberger and Race To Dubai leader Henrik Stenson.

“It was the longest day on the course that I’ve ever had. I’m very proud of what I did.” – Victor Dubuisson

Afterwards, a delighted Victor Dubuisson said: “I don’t know how to describe it. I felt so much pressure on the last hole.

“Even on the last putt, I was feeling so much stress. It was the longest day on the course that I’ve ever had. I’m very proud of what I did.

“Tiger, Stenson, Justin Rose, they were all in contention with me today. So it’s a really great feeling.”

The focus now shifts to the season-ending DP World Tour Championship in Dubai next week, where Stenson will attempt to become the third player in a row to win the money lists on both the European and PGA Tours in the same season.

Another top ten in Turkey for the consistent Swede sees him take a lead of some 210,000 points into the final tournament of the year, with Rose, Poulter and Graeme McDowell all chasing him down.

Victor Dubuisson: Turkish Airlines Open champion

Victor Dubuisson’s victory was the 12th first-time victory by a player on the European Tour this season and moves him into the top 40 of the Official World Golf Rankings.

Michael McEwan is the Deputy Editor of bunkered and has been part of the team since 2004. In that time, he has interviewed almost every major figure within the sport, from Jack Nicklaus, to Rory McIlroy, to Donald Trump. The host of the multi award-winning bunkered Podcast and a member of Balfron Golfing Society, Michael is the author of three books and is the 2023 PPA Scotland 'Writer of the Year' and 'Columnist of the Year'. Dislikes white belts, yellow balls and iron headcovers. Likes being drawn out of the media ballot to play Augusta National.

Deputy Editor