Despite a double-bogey and a bogey on the homeward nine on Sunday, Robin Williams rounded off a superb week at the DP World Tour’s Alfred Dunhill Links Championship with a six-under-par 66 to lift himself into a share of fourth.
Williams once again grabbed the opportunity given him on the bigger stage as he awaits his ascent to the DP World Tour from the Sunshine Tour and the Challenge Tour as he carded rounds of 66 on the Old Course at St Andrews and Kingsbarns, a one-under 71 on the fearsome Carnoustie before his final 66 on the Old Course took him to 19-under for the tournament.
That put him five strokes behind winner Tyrrell Hatton, who closed with a two-under 70 to hold off Nicolas Colsaerts of Belgium by one shot in a fascinating duel down the challenging homeward nine into the wind at St Andrews. Hatton’s English countryman Tommy Fleetwood finished third on 21-under, and Williams shared fourth with David Puig of Spain. They were one clear of, amongst others, Jon Rahm.
Williams went out in six-under-par 30, which included an eagle on the 562-yard fifth, when he holed a putt from 25 feet after reaching the green in two after a 362-yard drive. He made four birdies in a row around the turn from the seventh, and then he hit his tee shot way right on the 12th. He hacked out sideways, hit his approach to within seven feet – and then three-putted for double. He dropped another on the Road Hole, but birdies on 14 and 18 kept him at level-par for the homeward nine which was a good score in the conditions.
Darren Fichardt also had a great week on the links, closing with a one-under-par 71 to finish on 16-under-par in a share of 12th. Also on 16-under was Dean Burmester, who got his final round to seven-under through 11 holes before bogeys on 13 and 14 stalled his progress.
Louis Albertse was a shot back on 15-under after his closing five-under 67 lifted him into a share of 19th.
