Portugal Masters 2021 R4
November 04-07
Dom Pedro Victoria Golf Course, Vilamoura, Portugal
€1,500,000
Round 1, Round 2, Round 3

Estimated reading time: 8 minutes

Thomas Pieters reached 19-under on Sunday to win his fifth European Tour title at the Portugal Master.

Portugal Masters 2021 R4

"I didn't expect to come down with a two shot lead after we ping-ponged leads. I saw Højgaard was up there again. That five iron into 17 was the best shot of the day for me. Just how I envisioned it. I ran the first putt by, but I felt comfortable over my putter all week. I 've been putting really nicely the last five or six weeks. It showed on the last. I saw the line, picked it, hit it and it went in."

Portugal Masters 2021 R4

Pieters, who last won at the 2019 D+D Real Czech Masters, moves back into the top-100 in the Official World Golf Ranking

"It does (feel like a long time). Two years is a long time. I've had a child in the meantime, who talks and runs around, it does feel like a long time.

"I was going into this week and next week with my back to the wall. I had nothing to lose but everything to gain. I've never missed the end of the Race to Dubai and really didn't want to miss it. I didn't care if I finished first, second or third. I just wanted to get there, but winning is amazing."

Portugal Masters 2021 R4

The Belgian player started the day with a share of the lead alongside Frenchman Matthieu Pavon at 16-under and produced an eagle at the par-5 5th, two birdies and two bogeys for a closing 68.

"You know on the back nine you can shoot 30 or 29, I'm not going to say easily but it's out there," said Pieters. "I expected someone to get to 17 or 18 from the back of the pack. Matthieu (Pavon) hit a couple of errant shots. Is it pressure? Is it the first time near the lead? I don't know, but he 's going to learn from it. He played amazing, making a birdie after an eight on 12 was impressive. He'll be back."

Pavon had a flawless front nine, firing three birdies to make the turn in 32. He made three more birdies on the back nine but also found water three times and made two bogeys and a triple bogey at the par-5 12th. He closed with a 70 and a share of second place at 17-under.

Portugal Masters 2021 R4

Danes Nicolai Højgaard (64), who carded the lowest round of the day, and Lucas Bjerregaard (66) tied with Pavon for second place.

"It's been good fun," said Højgaard. " It was a good ride on the back and the front nine as well. It's tough right now, I'm so disappointed with my finish. It's kind of hard right now to see the positives, but I played some really good golf today and I'm proud of that. But I'm not satisfied with the finish.

"I'm pretty sure I'm going to win at least one more time, a few times, in the next few years. I'm just disappointed; when you have the chance to close out a tournament and put some pressure on the guys behind and then you don't do that, it's tough sometimes. But there's many positives and I'm happy."

"I thought they (Pieters and Pavon) would be a few more under and in a battle between them. I was thinking I was playing for third place today with Lucas (Bjerregaard). It's always fun when you're in contention, all of a sudde n you make a few birdies and you're up there sharing the lead.

Portugal Masters 2021 R4

Bjerregaard has now secured his Tour card for 2022 after moving into the top-100 on the Race to Dubai.

"I haven't felt comfortable all week," said Bjerregaard, "but I did what I came here to do. Even though I didn't feel like I'd played very well. That kind of sunk in with that putt on the last.

Englishman Matthew Jordan closed with a 66 for a share of fifth place at 13-under alongside second round leader Nino Bertasio of Italy who closed with a 67.

Portugal Masters 2021 R4