Volatile English Ryder Cup star Hatton continued his hot streak to meet the challenge from Kiwi Daniel Hillier and win one of the Tour de France’s most iconic events by one stroke on Sunday at Emirates Golf Club.
Micheluzzi finished the tournament as he started it – with his best round of the day, his second 7-under 65 in four days on the challenging Majlis course.
However, the 28-year-old Melburnian reflected sadly on disappointing over-par rounds in the second and third rounds, which cost him a chance to share the victory as he finished eighth on 10-under.
But world No. 225 Micheluzzi’s reward for his surge in the final round, which featured eight birdies and one bogey, was a check for 207,000 euros (S$345,000).
Still, he finished five shots behind Hatton, who called his victory a “dream come true.”
On Saturday, during a third-inning explosion, he broke a box of T-shirts and was penalized by an official, before dismissing it brazenly, stating, “I don’t want to be boring like everyone else.”
There was certainly no dull moment on Sunday, as a pair of masterful shots of a 3-under-par 69 earned him a 15-under victory and his record-tying fifth Rolex Series title.
Melbourne’s David Micheluzzi has signed for his best DP World Tour finish. PHOTO: Getty Images.
“It’s an amazing feeling,” said Hatton, who finished two places ahead of Englishwoman Laurie Canter.
“This is one of the events you want to have on your CV. This is an iconic event for the DP World Tour.
“Adding my name to the list of amazing champions that have come before me and having my name on this trophy is a dream come true.”
“I won’t lie. Honestly, I was pretty nervous on the back nine. I guess I just wanted it a little too much.”
It was a tight battle with the underrated Kiwi Hillier, the overnight leader, who was hoping for a “life-changing” victory, but Hatton performed brilliantly at a key moment on January 16, displaying a fantastic wedge approach that set up a tap for birdie to send him two shots clear.
He continued to work hard at it on the 18th, when his conservative approach meant he had to make the deciding five-foot shot for par after Hillier had made a birdie.
“I knew what position I was in and in the last game I was a bit sloppy. But yeah, seeing that putt go into the ground felt amazing. I was just really happy to win,” Hatton said.
It was too late for Rory McIlroy as a 66 dropped him to 12 under for the week and tied for fourth place.
Micheluzzi’s Australians also enjoyed a decent tournament. Min Woo Lee finished 17th on six-under after a par round, and Jason Scrivener shot further to 21st after scoring a 73.
Adam Scott finished 75th and 37th at two under, and Elvis Smylie finished 58th after a final-round 75 in which he had a one-under lead.
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