France's Antoine Rozner poses with the Mother of Pearl Trophy after winning the 2021 Commercial Bank Qatar Masters at Education City Golf Club, yesterday. Pic: Ebrahim Kutty
Something exceptional was needed to win the 2021 Commercial Bank Qatar Masters yesterday, and Antoine Rozner rose to the challenge with an incredible show of putting to seal the title.
The Frenchman holed a 60-foot birdie putt on the final hole to clinch the iconic Mother of Pearl Trophy with a one-shot victory, carding 67 in a closely-fought final round at state-of-the-art Education City Golf Club (ECGC).
“It’s unreal,” Rozner, who entered the final round trailing the overnight leader Darren Fichardt by three shots, said.
“In my biggest dreams I couldn’t imagine anything like this happening. It’s probably the biggest putt of my career - amazing.”
The 28-year-old finished at eight under to lift his second European Tour title, three months after winning his maiden crown at the Golf in Dubai Championship.
Yesterday’s triumph makes Rozner the fastest French golfer ever to complete a pair of titles, as he was featuring in only his 29th event.
“It’s so early in my career, only my second year on tour. I’m playing great so I’m just going to keep doing what I’m doing, playing the way I’ve been playing the last two years and I’m excited to see what the future holds for me. It’s very promising.”
“Winning a golf tournament is so rare – to win twice in just a few months is unreal. I’m just very happy with the way I got it done today in such a dramatic fashion, it’s amazing. I’m very happy,” he told European Tour.
With conditions turning calm on the final day after golfers endured gusty winds during the previous two rounds at ECGC, Rozner reached on top in 33rd hole before Italy’s Guido Migliozzi carded bogey free 65 to take the share of lead. However, the Frenchman took the result beyond doubt by draining a superb double breaker over the ridge.
Migliozzi along with India’s Gaganjeet Bhullar and South African Fichardt finished joint second, while Welshman Jamie Donaldson and Richard Mcevoy were joined third with a five under par 279.
Rozner, who was consistent throughout the event, came into contention after firing a stunning 68 in the penultimate round braving strong winds, on a day when only four golfers were under par.
The Frenchman received €190,836.27 – the winner’s prize – with joint second finishers Migliozzi, Bhullar and Fichardt getting €84,009.20 each. Donaldson and Mcevoy collected €44,218.90 apiece.
Meanwhile, Migliozzi, who fired a phenomenal 65 yesterday to secure joint second said he took inspiration from Major Championship winner Justin Thomas.
Migliozzi, who started the final day five shots behind leader, came close to play-off after impressive card before Rozner excelled to snatch the title.
The Italian, however, was delighted with his performance.
“I’m really happy with my game today. I played solid from tee to green and also on the putting green it was better. I was able to read the greens better than yesterday, Migliozzi told European Tour.
“I was watching Justin Thomas, who shot eight under par, at The Players,” he said. “I said to my caddie this morning on the range ‘let’s try and shoot eight under par and we’ll see what happens’.
“Four under par on the front nine and two under on the back nine, it wasn’t easy.”
