Sports
SA Garrick Higgo Claims Dramatic Victory at Punta Cana Championship
South African golfer Garrick Higgo claimed a thrilling victory at the PGA Tour’s Punta Cana Championship on Sunday, thanks to a late-round collapse by Joel Dahmen. Higgo’s final-round performance proved just steady enough as Dahmen fell apart over the closing holes.
The 25-year-old from Johannesburg closed with an even-par 72 to finish the tournament at 14 under par, securing the title by a single stroke.
Dahmen began the day with a three-shot cushion but unravelled in the final stretch, bogeying the last three holes. His nightmare included a missed 3-foot putt at the par-3 17th and a round of 76—his worst of the week and the worst among the top 37 finishers.
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The American, who won at Punta Cana in 2021, could only watch as the title slipped away.
‘This is why I play the game’ – Higgo
Higgo, who previously won the Palmetto Championship in 2021, acknowledged how unpredictable the sport can be.
“This is unbelievable and this is why I play the game,” he said. “You know, the journey—I’m going to go through a down again, everybody does, I’m going to have ups. I just truly enjoy the journey.”
A visibly shaken Dahmen admitted he was struggling to come to terms with the loss.
“I think I’m in a little bit of shock, honestly,” he said. “It’s not how you win a golf tournament, I’ll tell you that. I don’t deserve to win it. Bogeying the last three is inexcusable.”
“This one could take a while to get over,” he added. “It’s one of those things—you learn more in defeat, unfortunately. This one’s going to sting for a while.”
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Sourced:The Citizen
Picture: Andy Lyons/Getty Images
