Rasmus Højgaard started the day with a six-shot lead but had a terrible start to his round with a quintuple bogey at the par-3 2nd immediately followed by a bogey. He went on to make two more bogeys and five birdies to close with a 71 and retain a one-shot lead at 12-under in the Cazoo Open de France.
✅ Started with 6 shot lead
✅ Made quintuple-bogey 8 on 2nd
✅ Played last 16 holes in -2
✅ Leads by 1Rasmus Højgaard 👏🇩🇰#CazooOpenDeFrance pic.twitter.com/JpolHPQQP1
— DP World Tour (@DPWorldTour) September 24, 2022
“It was tough but I had to try to tell myself that I’d been playing well the first two days and I shouldn’t let it bother me too much,” said the Dane.
“So yeah, I just tried my best to stay in there and try to hit some good shots after that. I was very proud of myself, to be fair.
“Obviously an annoying finish there with a bogey on the 18th but it was a tough grind. I’m proud that I stayed in there and made a few birdies along the way.
“It’s obviously not the Saturday I wanted but at the same time I’m just happy that I stayed in there, managed to make some birdies and I still have the lead. So I’m looking forward to tomorrow.
“I’ll just be patient (on Sunday). I showed out there today that by being patient I managed to make a few birdies and not let it affect me too much. Hopefully I’ll get off to a better start but I’ll stay patient and trust what I’m doing.
“Every win you get along the way in your career is amazing and I would love to add this one.”
Out the rough, over water on 18 😱
What a shot @gcoetzeegolf!#CazooOpenDeFrance pic.twitter.com/x8cljkQkXW
— DP World Tour (@DPWorldTour) September 24, 2022
South African George Coetzee birdied the final hole to close with a 68 and take solo second place at 11-under.
Belgium’s Thomas Pieters carded a bogey-free 66 for a share of third place at 10-under alongside France’s Paul Barjon who carded a 70.