South African youngster Garrick Higgo cruises to second European Tour title

MADRID – South Africa's Garrick Higgo continued his brilliant start to life as a European Tour professional by sealing his second victory on the circuit at the Gran Canaria Open on Sunday.

The 21-year-old, who won last year's Portugal Open on just his seventh European Tour start, eased to a three-shot triumph in the Canary Islands.

Higgo, the world number 110, started the final round with a two-shot lead and managed to stay out in front and finish on 25-under-par for the tournament.

He could rise to as high as 65th in the rankings on Monday.

In-form German Maximilian Kieffer, who lost in a play-off in Austria on his last outing, put some pressure on with an eight-under 62, but had to settle for second again.

"It's unreal. It's hard to put into words"@garrick_higgo on his second European Tour victory in just his 24th start 🗣️#GranCanariaLopesanOpen pic.twitter.com/fmoI8ut1qZ

— The European Tour (@EuropeanTour) April 25, 2021

Denmark's Thorbjorn Olesen, part of Europe's 2018 Ryder Cup-winning team, finished tied-fifth on 18-under in his first start of the year after struggles with injury and Covid-19.

Olesen is still waiting to stand trial on charges including sexual assault after being arrested at London's Heathrow Airport in July 2019 after returning from an event in the United States.

He was suspended by the tour after being charged with sexual assault, being drunk on an aircraft and common assault, but was cleared to return less than a year later after his trial was delayed until at least December 2021 due to the coronavirus pandemic.

The 31-year-old has pleaded not guilty to all three charges.

Finishing in style 🐦

A tap in birdie for a closing 63 and a three-shot victory 👏#GranCanariaLopesanOpen pic.twitter.com/F9ll2WJ0eu

— The European Tour (@EuropeanTour) April 25, 2021

Olesen led at the halfway stage, but fell back over the weekend with rounds of 70 and 66.

AFP