England’s Laurie Canter claimed the second DP World Tour title of his career in a three-player playoff at the Bapco Energies Bahrain Championship after Pablo Larrazabal had dramatically squandered his own victory chance.
Spain’s Larrazabal had appeared set to take the 10th tour win of his career as he came down the 18th of the final round holding a one-shot lead over the English duo of Canter and Dan Brown.
But despite finding the green with his second shot into the par-four final hole, the 41-year-old seemed to let nerves get the better of him as he inexplicably three-putted from 41 feet to record his only bogey of the round and drop into a playoff.
To compound his misery, Larrazabal then found the right-hand side water with his drive when back on the 18th tee on the first extra hole, all but ending the 41-year-old’s hopes of the title there and then.
That wayward tee shot opened the door to the Brits, with Canter the one to take advantage thanks to a picture-book drive down the 437-yard hole and then a superb 9-iron into the green which saw the ball backspin off the back edge and finish within two feet of the pin.
To his credit, Larrazabal produced his own superb approach after taking his one-shot penalty drop from the water, but a further subsequent missed par putt meant Canter ultimately had the luxury of knowing he had two attempts with the putter for the title. He ultimately only needed one.
Brown was never in contention, meanwhile, on the playoff hole after finding bunkers with his first two shots and also recorded a bogey.
Canter had shot 69 in the final round while Larrazabal and Brown both had 70s. The trio finished on 14-under par for the week, one stroke ahead of David Puig – who recorded Sunday’s best round of 64 – Scotland’s Richie Ramsay (68), Ivan Cantero (69) and Martin Couvra (70).
More to follow…
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