But for two late bogeys on Sunday, Dean Burmester could have inserted himself into the mix to win the European Tour’s Alfred Dunhill Links Championship, but his closing seven-under 65 was still good enough for a share of seventh.
In fact, he will look back on the stretch from 13 to 17 on the Old Course at St Andrews with no great fondness after he made four bogeys in succession from 13 to 16 in the third round, and then dropped shots on 16 and 17 in the final round to put the brakes on what was a spectacular charge.
He had made nine birdies up to the 15th on Sunday, and, having made birdie in the third round on the 17th, the Road Hole, he must have been relishing picking up another shot or two coming home and setting a stiff target for those players behind him.
In the end, he fell five strokes short, and instead, Danny Willett returned to the winner’s circle with a total of 18-under-par giving him a two-shot victory over Sweden’s Joakin Lagergen and Tyrell Hatton.
Still, Burmester will be pleased that his performance takes him inside the top 20 in the Race to Dubai rankings, with four tournaments on the schedule before the season-ending DP World Tour Championship in Dubai on November 18.
Thomas Aiken showed some form with his closing 68 taking him to eight-under for the tournament and a share of 24th. Branden Grace was in 27th on seven-under after a closing 70, while MJ Daffue had a 68 to also be in 27th.
Wilco Nienaber started well in his final round with four birdies in the final seven holes, but he couldn’t hold it together and made two double bogeys and two bogeys in the final 10 holes to sign for a disappointing 73 for a share of 36th on six-under.
Justin Harding was the last of the South Africans to make the cut, and his final-round 72 had him on two-under in 54th.
