Posted on May 30, 2022 in News.
Dutch Open: Victor Perez winner after an anthology playoff!
For much of the final lap, it looked like New Zealander Ryan Fox was untouchable and about to take his second win of the season. His first nine holes included an eagle on the 12th and birdies on the 11th and 14th holes. When he hit 18, he was 6 under for the day with a three stroke lead. However, the 72nd hole proved to be his downfall. Fox made a fatal mistake off the par 5 tee, carrying his drive into the obstacles and thus achieving a disastrous double-bogey.
This poor performance reduced the 35-year-old to 13 under par, leaving a small chance for his pursuers.
One stroke down on the Dutch Open leaderboard, Victor Perez played his approach on the par-3 of 17 from 10 yards out. It was then that Perez was imperial enquiring this very long putt, bringing the Frenchman to equality with Fox and a hole remaining to play.
A huge birdie for @ v_perez2! 💪
He ties the lead with the by five 18th still to play. #DutchOpen2022 pic.twitter.com/JXERak6pg4
- DP World Tour (@DPWorldTour) May 29, 2022
Victor Perez didn't birdie the par-5 for the win, so both men headed to extra holes to decide the winner. That's when the suspense went to another level.
First playoff hole – No.18
On the first extra hole, the two men each accomplished what they had not been able to do in regulation: birdie on the par-5 of 18 . But it did not happen without resistance. Fox first birdied, but Victor Perez responded in turn by returning a 6-yard putt to force a second playoff hole.
Perez and Fox both make birdies in the first Play Off hole! 😲
Back to the 18th tee box we go…#DutchOpen2022 pic.twitter.com/cWBmToaGQG
- DP World Tour (@DPWorldTour) May 29, 2022
Second playoff hole – No.18
Compared to the rest of the playoff, this hole was the least spectacular Perez pared first and Fox birdied to win the tournament. He missed it, and the two men went back to the 18th tee.
Playoff third hole – No.18
Fox once again seemed to have the upper hand on the third playoff hole. He hit a drive down the center of the fairway, then his approach to the center of the green and a double birdie putt. Perez had to make a long putt for the birdie to stay in the game.
Playoff Fourth Hole – No.17
The fourth hole of the playoff brought the players back to the par-3 of the 17th. Fox's approach was the closer of the two, but he ended up on the wrong side of the green. Perez, with an approach of more than 10 yards, stepped forward and – as he has done many times over the past hour – rolled his putt into the hole.
🏌️♂️🏆 @ v_perez2 wins his 2nd professional victory!
Victory in the playoff for the French at the Dutch Open, 3 years after his first pro victory. pic.twitter.com/rbLpL3R9pl
— Objective Paris 2024 🇫🇷 🥇 (@Objectif_2024) May 29, 2022
Fox failed to create the same magic as Victor Perez, and after an epic four-hole playoff, the Frenchman (finally) secured the unlikely victory.
To consult the leaderboard: click here
To read our last article on the same subject :