Round 4 - Paul Dunne holds off Rory McIlroy charge

October 2, 2017

Paul Dunne held off a thrilling challenge from Rory McIlroy in the final round of the British Masters on Sunday to claim his first European Tour title.

Dunne, who sprang to prominence after sharing the 54-hole lead in the 2015 British Open while still an amateur, shot seven birdies and an eagle in a closing 61 to finish 20 under par.

The 24-year-old Irishman sealed victory in style by chipping in on the 18th to finish three shots clear of McIlroy and secure a place in the world's top 100 for the first time.

McIlroy's 63 was the lowest score of an injury-plagued season which he will bring to an early, self-imposed end next week.

European Ryder Cup vice-captain Robert Karlsson, who began the day with a one-shot lead, finished third on 16 under, with Graeme Storm, David Lingmerth and Florian Fritsch all on 14 under.

Round 3 - Rory McIlroy moves in to contention

September 30, 2017

Rory McIlroy moved into contention at the British Masters by shooting a 6-under 64 in the third round, leaving the No. 6-ranked golfer two strokes off the lead held by Sweden's Robert Karlsson on Saturday.

Karlsson shot 67 and was one stroke clear of five players, including overnight leader Tyrrell Hatton, who bogeyed the last for a 71.

Hatton was one of only three players in the top 24 to fail to break par on a day of low scoring at Close House in northern England.

McIlroy made the weekend only after a back-nine rally in the second round, and now has a good chance of winning for the first time in 2017, in what is his next-to-last event of the season.

''You get yourself into contention and you start to think about things and it would be nice to get a win,'' said McIlroy, who chipped in for a birdie on the fifth hole and carded three more birdies in a front nine of 31.

''The last couple of tournaments, I've been off pretty early on the weekends and had 50 people following me, where there's thousands out there. So it's nice to get into that sort of environment again. I haven't shot a low score like that in a while.''

McIlroy is looking to avoid just the second winless season of his career.

Karlsson held the 54-hole lead for the first time on the European Tour since 2008.

Round 2 - Tyrrell Hatton opens three shot lead

September 30, 2017

Tyrrell Hatton shot a 5-under 65 in miserable conditions in his second round to lead by three strokes at the British Masters, where the leaderboard was dominated by English players on Friday.

Lee Westwood, who is hosting the tournament, and Ian Poulter also shot 65 and were two of four Englishmen in a five-way tie for second behind their compatriot.

Hatton was on 12 under overall, having followed up an opening-round 63 by making six birdies in rainy and cold conditions at Close House in northern England.

''It's good to be back in form with a big run of events coming up with huge world ranking points,'' said the 29th-ranked Hatton, who was tied for third at the European Masters in early September. ''I'd like to play as well as I can and climb up the world rankings and secure (a place) in all four majors again next year.''

Westwood added a 65 to his opening 66 and has yet to drop a shot this week, despite coping with the demands of hosting the event - such as hiring an extra field for additional parking as more than 18,000 spectators attended on Thursday.

''It was a bit of a relief to actually be a golfer again,'' Westwood said.

There were seven English players in the top nine heading into the third round. That round will include Rory McIlroy after the world No. 6 responded to two bogeys in his first five holes that left him hovering around the projected cut.

McIlroy did not drop a shot after that, making birdie on Nos. 6, 11 and 17 for a 69, leaving him on 4 under overall.

Masters champion Sergio Garcia missed the cut, which was at 2 under, after rounds of 70 and 69.

Round 1 - George Coetzee and Tyrrell Hatton lead with 63s

September 29, 2017

George Coetzee and Tyrrell Hatton shot 7-under 63s to lead the British Masters on Thursday, while Rory McIlroy needed the help of a spectator to stay on track in his first round.

Coetzee followed up top-10 finishes at his last two events by rolling in six birdies and making an eagle at the par-5 sixth hole to set a clubhouse target at Close House Golf Club in northern England.

Hatton joined Coetzee atop the leaderboard by making birdies on five of the last seven holes, including one from 15 feet at the par-3 18th.

Finnish golfers Mikko Ilonen and Mikko Korhonen were in a five-way share of third place on 6 under, along with Alvaro Quiros, Chris Hanson and Rikard Karlberg.

McIlroy, who was a late entry after failing to qualify for the Tour Championship on the U.S. PGA Tour, shot 67 but only after a spectator found his ball inside the five-minute time limit following a wild drive on No. 17, his eighth hole.

The No. 6-ranked McIlroy produced a superb recovery from thick rough to the elevated green and went on to save par, before making three birdies on the front nine.

''I feel like I'm not under any pressure to perform at all, I'm not putting myself under any pressure,'' said McIlroy, whose last tournament will be next week at the Alfred Dunhill Links Championship. ''That's probably the reason I went out there and shot a decent score.''

Masters champion Sergio Garcia bogeyed the 18th for a level-par round of 70.

Scores

 

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