Scotland’s long wait for a European Tour winner goes on

  • Lucas Bjerregaard claims victory with final round of 65 at Dom Pedro Victoria
  • Marc Warren finishes four shots back in second place after final round of 67
  • No Scottish player has won on the European Tour since Richie Ramsay in 2015

Scotland’s long wait for a European Tour winner goes on after Lucas Bjerregaard held his nerve to beat Marc Warren in the Portugal Masters.

No Scot has won on tour since Richie Ramsay in 2015, but the consolation for 36-year-old Warren is his runner-up finish giving him an excellent chance of retaining his tour card.

No such worries for Dane Bjerregaard, 26, who claimed his first victory with a final-round 65. England’s Graeme Storm and Eddie Pepperell were tied third.  

Lucas Bjerregaard of Denmark celebrates victory with the Portugal Masters trophy

Bjerregaard of Denmark is sprayed with champagne by Jeff Winther and Thorbjorn Olesen

Bjerregaard of Denmark is sprayed with champagne by Jeff Winther and Thorbjorn Olesen

South Africa’s George Coetzee had been Bjerregaard’s nearest challenger for much of the day, but drove into the water on the 18th and ran up a triple-bogey seven which dropped him into a tie for seventh.

‘It feels really good,’ Bjerregaard told Sky Sports when assessing his win. ‘It’s definitely not the year I’ve been looking for. To be honest it’s been really tough so to be in contention again felt really good and to come out on top feels even better.

‘I’ve been out here for four years now and to be honest you start doubting if it’s ever going to happen because you know you’ve got to have a week where it all comes together and luckily this was the week for me.

‘Today is definitely up there with one of my best rounds, maybe not for the six under but under the pressure, some of the shots I hit today were some of the best I’ve hit in a long time.’

Bjerregaard made the ideal start with four birdies in the first eight holes to lead by four before a two-shot swing on the ninth, where a poor chip led to a bogey and playing partner Coetzee made birdie from six feet.

However, Bjerregaard bounced back superbly with birdies on the 10th and 11th and although he bogeyed the 14th after finding sand off the tee, further birdies on the 15th and 17th proved decisive.

Warren had closed to within two of the lead with an eagle from 20 feet on the 17th and although he three-putted the last, his best result of the season lifted him from 173rd on the Race to Dubai to 100th.

Only the top 100 at the end of the season will retain full playing privileges for 2018. 

Warren had closed to within two of the lead with an eagle from 20 feet on the 17th

Warren had closed to within two of the lead with an eagle from 20 feet on the 17th

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