ABU DHABI, United Arab Emirates (AP) — The best shot of Victor Perez’s life has set up likely the biggest year of the Frenchman’s golfing career. Perez span a bunker shot back into the hole for birdie at No. 17 and celebrated wildly on the way to shooting 6-under 66 for a one-stroke victory at the Abu Dhabi Championship on Sunday, earning him his third and easily biggest DP World Tour title. “It was probably the greatest shot I’ve ever hit,” Perez said. That wasn’t the end of the drama in a crazy finish at Yas Island Links. Two strokes clear when teeing off at the par-5 18th, Perez drove into a fairway bunker, hit his second shot nearly into the water and two-putted for a bogey. Min Woo Lee, playing in the group behind, needed an eagle at the last to force a playoff and his third shot raced just past the hole then rolled slowly back down the hill to settle within a foot of the cup. Only then could Perez, watching the television in the scorer’s hut, truly celebrate winning around $1.5 million at one of the tour’s top events. It could be a life-changing victory for Perez, who climbed into second place in Europe’s Ryder Cup qualification standings. A captain’s pick for the contest with the United States outside Rome looks likely at the very least. Perez was almost brought to tears when he was asked about what this victory would do for his career. “There’s a lot of big things coming up, I’ve had a really good off-season, I’ve worked really hard …,” an emotional Perez said before stepping away and covering his face with his hands. Perez finished on 18 under par for the tournament, with Sebastian Soderberg (67) and Lee (68) tied for second place. His previous wins on the tour came at the Dunhill Links Championship in 2019 and the Dutch Open in May last year. Lee was in a share of the lead after the third round with major winners Shane Lowry and Francesco Molinari, but the latter two faded away in the back nine. Lowry, in particular, struggled to a 76 after finishing bogey-bogey-triple bogey-bogey, and was in a tie for 28th. Molinari shot 71 and was tied fifth. Perez birdied four of his first seven holes and twice held a two-shot lead early in the final round. He did so again after playing the par-3 17th hole. Leading by one at that stage, Perez left his tee shot short and in a greenside bunker. His second shot went about 10 feet beyond the cup and span back into it, leading to Perez leaping out of the sand and chest-bumping his caddie. “It came up maybe a little skinny, I’m not going to lie,” he said, “and it span back and I had the fortune of the ball going in.” Perez spoke of more “fortune” down the 18th, when he fluffed his second shot and saw it roll down the hill and end up in thick rough near the water hazard. “I would have had to drop in the rough, you’re playing 4, you catch a flyer and now the whole thing is back on the table,” he said. That didn’t happen, though. Perez chipped out from the rough and hit a 7-iron under pressure pin-high from 150 yards. Perez missed out on getting in Europe’s team for the Ryder Cup in 2021 having also been in a good position early in qualification. He is hoping to make amends now he is top of the Race to Dubai standings and is about to rise into the top 60 in the world. “It’s a position that I know — I’ve been in, basically, these shoes 2 1/2 years ago for Whistling Straits,” he said. “I’m delighted because it’s something hopefully I know, I can draw a little bit of experience from it and maybe use it going forward.” Padraig Harrington, the 51-year-old Irishman and three-time major winner, was alone in fourth place — two shots behind Perez — after a closing 67.
Victor Perez hits shot of a lifetime for Abu Dhabi HSBC Championship win
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1st Round 3 Balls – M. Lee / B. Henderson / R. Yin | |
Type: 1st Round 3 Balls – Status: OPEN | |
Brooke Henderson | +170 |
Minjee Lee | +175 |
Ruoning Yin | +180 |
1st Round 3 Balls – C. Hull / L. Thompson / A. Lee | |
Type: 1st Round 3 Balls – Status: OPEN | |
Alison Lee | +145 |
Charley Hull | +160 |
Lexi Thompson | +230 |
1st Round 3 Balls – B. Cauley / D. Lipsky / R. Sloan | |
Type: 1st Round 3 Balls – Status: OPEN | |
Bud Cauley | +135 |
David Lipsky | +185 |
Roger Sloan | +220 |
1st Round 3 Balls – R. Palmer / M. Kim / B. Taylor | |
Type: 1st Round 3 Balls – Status: OPEN | |
Michael Kim | +130 |
Ryan Palmer | +160 |
Ben Taylor | +260 |
1st Round Match-Up – M. Kim v J. Suh | |
Type: 1st Round Match-Up – Status: OPEN | |
Michael Kim | -125 |
Justin Suh | +105 |
1st Round 3 Balls – J. Bramlett / D. Thompson / S. Gutschewski | |
Type: 1st Round 3 Balls – Status: OPEN | |
Davis Thompson | +125 |
Joseph Bramlett | +135 |
Scott Gutschewski | +350 |
1st Round 3 Balls – H. Norlander / J. Suh / C. Yuan | |
Type: 1st Round 3 Balls – Status: OPEN | |
Carl Yuan | +160 |
Justin Suh | +160 |
Henrik Norlander | +200 |
Tournament Match-Up – J. Suh v C. Yuan | |
Type: Tournament Match-Up – Status: OPEN | |
Justin Suh | -120 |
Carl Yuan | -110 |
1st Round Match-Up – D. Thompson v D. Berger | |
Type: 1st Round Match-Up – Status: OPEN | |
Davis Thompson | -125 |
Daniel Berger | +105 |
1st Round Match-Up – J. Bramlett v V. Whaley | |
Type: 1st Round Match-Up – Status: OPEN | |
Joseph Bramlett | -135 |
Vince Whaley | +115 |
1st Round 3 Balls – P. Kizzire / R. Moore / C. Tarren | |
Type: 1st Round 3 Balls – Status: OPEN | |
Ryan Moore | +130 |
Patton Kizzire | +190 |
Callum Tarren | +220 |
1st Round 3 Balls – M. Trainer / V. Whaley / M. Schmid | |
Type: 1st Round 3 Balls – Status: OPEN | |
Matti Schmid | +150 |
Vince Whaley | +175 |
Martin Trainer | +200 |
1st Round 3 Balls – D. Berger / J.B. Holmes / S. Stallings | |
Type: 1st Round 3 Balls – Status: OPEN | |
Scott Stallings | +125 |
Daniel Berger | +130 |
J B Holmes | +375 |
1st Round 3 Balls – W. Clark / T. Finau / S. Woo Kim | |
Type: 1st Round 3 Balls – Status: OPEN | |
Wyndham Clark | +135 |
Tony Finau | +190 |
Si Woo Kim | +200 |
1st Round Match-Up – W. Clark vs S. Theegala | |
Type: 1st Round Match-Up – Status: OPEN | |
Sahith Theegala | -120 |
Wyndham Clark | +100 |
1st Round Match-Up – J. Day vs T. Finau | |
Type: 1st Round Match-Up – Status: OPEN | |
Jason Day | -110 |
Tony Finau | -110 |
1st Round Match-Up – S.W. Kim vs A. Noren | |
Type: 1st Round Match-Up – Status: OPEN | |
Si Woo Kim | -120 |
Alex Noren | +100 |
1st Round 3 Balls – V. Norrman / D. Riley / C. Ramey | |
Type: 1st Round 3 Balls – Status: OPEN | |
Vincent Norrman | +160 |
Chad Ramey | +180 |
Davis Riley | +180 |
1st Round 3 Balls – S. Theegala / J. Day / P. Harrington | |
Type: 1st Round 3 Balls – Status: OPEN | |
Sahith Theegala | +120 |
Jason Day | +135 |
Padraig Harrington | +375 |
Tournament Match-Up – S. Theegala vs J. Day | |
Type: Tournament Match-Up – Status: OPEN | |
Sahith Theegala | -145 |
Jason Day | +110 |
1st Round Match-Up – A. Smalley v V. Norrman | |
Type: 1st Round Match-Up – Status: OPEN | |
Alex Smalley | -110 |
Vincent Norrman | -110 |
1st Round 3 Balls – M. Hughes / B. Horschel / T. Hoge | |
Type: 1st Round 3 Balls – Status: OPEN | |
Mackenzie Hughes | +170 |
Tom Hoge | +170 |
Billy Horschel | +185 |
1st Round 3 Balls – K. Kitayama / J.J. Spaun / C. Champ | |
Type: 1st Round 3 Balls – Status: OPEN | |
Kurt Kitayama | +130 |
Cameron Champ | +180 |
J J Spaun | +240 |
1st Round Match-Up – T. Hoge vs K. Kitayama | |
Type: 1st Round Match-Up – Status: OPEN | |
Kurt Kitayama | -110 |
Tom Hoge | -110 |
1st Round Match-Up – P. Rodgers vs M. Hughes | |
Type: 1st Round Match-Up – Status: OPEN | |
Mackenzie Hughes | -110 |
Patrick Rodgers | -110 |
1st Round 3 Balls – H. Buckley / R. Shelton / T. Alexander | |
Type: 1st Round 3 Balls – Status: OPEN | |
Robby Shelton | +160 |
Tyson Alexander | +175 |
Hayden Buckley | +190 |
1st Round 3 Balls – J. Walker / P. Rodgers / A. Smalley | |
Type: 1st Round 3 Balls – Status: OPEN | |
Patrick Rodgers | +115 |
Alex Smalley | +170 |
Jimmy Walker | +280 |
1st Round 3 Balls – N. Lashley / S. Ryder / Z. Blair | |
Type: 1st Round 3 Balls – Status: OPEN | |
Sam Ryder | +145 |
Nate Lashley | +160 |
Zac Blair | +230 |
1st Round 3 Balls – A. Long / J. Vegas / A. Noren | |
Type: 1st Round 3 Balls – Status: OPEN | |
Alex Noren | +100 |
Jhonattan Vegas | +230 |
Adam Long | +260 |
1st Round Match-Up – B. Silverman v N. Lashley | |
Type: 1st Round Match-Up – Status: OPEN | |
Nate Lashley | -115 |
Ben Silverman | -105 |
1st Round 3 Balls – C. Phillips / C. Gotterup / H. Springer | |
Type: 1st Round 3 Balls – Status: OPEN | |
Chandler Phillips | +160 |
Chris Gotterup | +170 |
Hayden Springer | +190 |
1st Round 3 Balls – B. Silverman / P. Barjon / K. Ventura | |
Type: 1st Round 3 Balls – Status: OPEN | |
Ben Silverman | +115 |
Paul Barjon | +210 |
Kris Ventura | +230 |
Tournament Match-Up – B. Silverman vs C. Gotterup | |
Type: Tournament Match-Up – Status: OPEN | |
Ben Silverman | -115 |
Chris Gotterup | -115 |
1st Round Match-Up – C. Phillips v C. Gotterup | |
Type: 1st Round Match-Up – Status: OPEN | |
Chris Gotterup | -115 |
Chandler Phillips | -105 |
1st Round 3 Balls – E. Barnes / T. Crowe / W. Furr | |
Type: 1st Round 3 Balls – Status: OPEN | |
Erik Barnes | +145 |
Trace Crowe | +185 |
Wilson Furr | +200 |
1st Round 3 Balls – N. Lindheim / A. Dumont De Chassart / K. Dougherty | |
Type: 1st Round 3 Balls – Status: OPEN | |
Adrien Dumont de Chassart | +175 |
Kevin Dougherty | +175 |
Nicholas Lindheim | +175 |
1st Round 3 Balls – E. Gonzalez / H. Endycott / V. Perez | |
Type: 1st Round 3 Balls – Status: OPEN | |
Victor Perez | +120 |
Harrison Endycott | +185 |
Emilio Gonzalez | +250 |
1st Round 3 Balls – R. MacIntyre / R. Campos / R. Pereda | |
Type: 1st Round 3 Balls – Status: OPEN | |
Robert MacIntyre | +110 |
Rafael Campos | +170 |
Raul Pereda | +320 |
1st Round Match-Up – V. Perez v R. MacIntyre | |
Type: 1st Round Match-Up – Status: OPEN | |
Victor Perez | -115 |
Robert MacIntyre | -105 |
1st Round 3 Balls – J. Campillo / R. Hoey / R. Gibson | |
Type: 1st Round 3 Balls – Status: OPEN | |
Jorge Campillo | +140 |
Rico Hoey | +140 |
Rhein Gibson | +275 |
1st Round 3 Balls – A. Nordqvist / A Lim Kim / Y. Saso | |
Type: 1st Round 3 Balls – Status: OPEN | |
Yuka Saso | +130 |
A Lim Kim | +170 |
Anna Nordqvist | +250 |
1st Round 3 Balls – M. Stark / J. Kupcho / J. Shin | |
Type: 1st Round 3 Balls – Status: OPEN | |
Jenny Shin | +130 |
Maja Stark | +200 |
Jennifer Kupcho | +210 |
1st Round 3 Balls – L. Vu / N. Hataoka / A. Furue | |
Type: 1st Round 3 Balls – Status: OPEN | |
Ayaka Furue | +170 |
Lilia Vu | +175 |
Nasa Hataoka | +180 |
1st Round 3 Balls – N. Korda / C. Boutier / L. Ko | |
Type: 1st Round 3 Balls – Status: OPEN | |
Nelly Korda | +130 |
Lydia Ko | +190 |
Celine Boutier | +220 |
1st Round 3 Balls – L. Grant / H.J. Kim / R. Zhang | |
Type: 1st Round 3 Balls – Status: OPEN | |
Hyo Joo Kim | +170 |
Linn Grant | +175 |
Rose Zhang | +180 |
2nd Round Match-Up – S. Bairstow v A Fitzpatrick | |
Type: 2nd Round Match-Up – Status: OPEN | |
Sam Bairstow | -115 |
Alex Fitzpatrick | -105 |
2nd Round Match-Up – J. Luiten v R. Cabrera Bello | |
Type: 2nd Round Match-Up – Status: OPEN | |
Joost Luiten | -140 |
Rafa Cabrera Bello | +115 |
2nd Round Match-Up – J. Veerman v M. Kieffer | |
Type: 2nd Round Match-Up – Status: OPEN | |
Johannes Veerman | -110 |
Maximillian Kieffer | -110 |
2nd Round Match-Up – J. Morrison v T. Lewis | |
Type: 2nd Round Match-Up – Status: OPEN | |
James Morrison | -110 |
Tom Lewis | -110 |
2nd Round Match-Up – M. Kawamura v A. Sullivan | |
Type: 2nd Round Match-Up – Status: OPEN | |
Andy Sullivan | -120 |
Masahiro Kawamura | +100 |
2nd Round Match-Up – C. Jarvis v M. Penge | |
Type: 2nd Round Match-Up – Status: OPEN | |
Casey Jarvis | -110 |
Marco Penge | -110 |
2nd Round Match-Up – B. Stone v G. Migliozzi | |
Type: 2nd Round Match-Up – Status: OPEN | |
Guido Migliozzi | -125 |
Brandon Stone | +105 |
2nd Round Match-Up – S. Sharma v A. Otaegui | |
Type: 2nd Round Match-Up – Status: OPEN | |
Adrian Otaegui | -120 |
Shubankar Sharma | +100 |
The Galleri Classic | |
Type: Winner – Status: OPEN | |
Steve Stricker | +350 |
Steven Alker | +650 |
Miguel Angel Jimenez | +1100 |
Jerry Kelly | +1200 |
Stephen Ames | +1400 |
Ernie Els | +1600 |
Alex Cejka | +1800 |
Brian Gay | +2000 |
KJ Choi | +2500 |
Kevin Sutherland | +2500 |
Click here for more… | |
Major Specials 2024 | |
Type: To Win A Major 2024 – Status: OPEN | |
Scottie Scheffler | +125 |
Jon Rahm | +225 |
Rory McIlroy | +225 |
Viktor Hovland | +225 |
Brooks Koepka | +350 |
Ludvig Aberg | +350 |
Patrick Cantlay | +400 |
Collin Morikawa | +450 |
Justin Thomas | +450 |
Wyndham Clark | +450 |
Click here for more… | |
The Masters 2024 | |
Type: Winner – Status: OPEN | |
Scottie Scheffler | +450 |
Rory McIlroy | +1100 |
Jon Rahm | +1200 |
Brooks Koepka | +1800 |
Jordan Spieth | +2000 |
Xander Schauffele | +2000 |
Hideki Matsuyama | +2500 |
Joaquin Niemann | +2500 |
Justin Thomas | +2500 |
Ludvig Aberg | +2500 |
Click here for more… | |
PGA Championship 2024 | |
Type: Winner – Status: OPEN | |
Scottie Scheffler | +700 |
Jon Rahm | +1000 |
Rory McIlroy | +1000 |
Viktor Hovland | +1400 |
Brooks Koepka | +1600 |
Bryson DeChambeau | +2000 |
Patrick Cantlay | +2000 |
Wyndham Clark | +2000 |
Xander Schauffele | +2000 |
Cameron Smith | +2500 |
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US Open 2024 | |
Type: Winner – Status: OPEN | |
Scottie Scheffler | +700 |
Rory McIlroy | +800 |
Jon Rahm | +900 |
Viktor Hovland | +1000 |
Cameron Smith | +1600 |
Brooks Koepka | +1800 |
Cameron Young | +2000 |
Collin Morikawa | +2000 |
Ludvig Aberg | +2000 |
Patrick Cantlay | +2000 |
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The Open Championship 2024 | |
Type: Winner – Status: OPEN | |
Scottie Scheffler | +800 |
Jon Rahm | +1000 |
Rory McIlroy | +1000 |
Viktor Hovland | +1100 |
Brooks Koepka | +2000 |
Cameron Smith | +2000 |
Cameron Young | +2000 |
Collin Morikawa | +2000 |
Jordan Spieth | +2500 |
Ludvig Aberg | +2500 |
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Solheim Cup 2024 | |
Type: Winner – Status: OPEN | |
USA | -140 |
Europe | +135 |
Tie | +1200 |
Ryder Cup 2025 | |
Type: Winner – Status: OPEN | |
USA | -135 |
Europe | +135 |
Tie | +1000 |