Højgaard wins playoff to claim UK Championship at The Belfry

Danish teenager Rasmus Højgaard won the ISPS HANDA UK Championship after edging out South Africa’s Justin Walters in a play-off at The Belfry.

On a dramatic final day at famous Warwickshire venue, the 19-year-old from Denmark came from five strokes back to finish level with Walters on 14 under par.

When the contest went to extra holes, Højgaard held his nerve with consecutive pars down the 18th, with his 39-year-old opponent making a bogey on the second trip back down the last.

Højgaard became the first player born in the 21st century to come through Qualifying School last year and won his first European Tour title in just his fifth start – also in a play-off – at the AfrAsia Bank Mauritius Open. Italian Matteo Manassero is the only other player to have captured two titles before turning 20.

After reaching the turn in 33, Højgaard dropped his first shot of the day on the 12th. That appeared to leave Walters and two-time Major winner Martin Kaymer battling for the title, but in a remarkable finish Højgaard birdied the 14th and 16th and eagled the par five 17th to complete a round of 65.

Kaymer finished in a tie for third place alongside Benjamin Hebert of France on 13 under par, with a bogey on 17 denying him a place in the play-off. Austrian Bernd Wiesberger and Craig Howie of Scotland were then at 12 under par, with England’s Marcus Armitage and Spaniard Jorge Campillo a shot further back.

With three UK Swing top tens in addition to his victory at The Belfry, Højgaard tops the Mini Order of Merit and receives an additional £60,000 to donate to charity, with the Childhood Cancer Foundation and Ronald McDonald House in Denmark his nominated charities.