Great Scot! Calum Hill's late surge seals ‘special' Joburg Open victory for second DP World Tour title
Calum Hill produced a breathtaking final-round charge and held his nerve in a dramatic play-off to win the Joburg Open, securing his second DP World Tour title in unforgettable fashion.
The victory ended a long wait since his breakthrough at the 2021 Cazoo Classic, making the moment even sweeter.
"This means a lot," said Hill who has three wins on the Challenge Tour and one on the Sunshine Tour. "It's been a while since that first win, and to do it like this, coming from behind, it makes it even more special."
The Scotsman, who started the day a staggering eight shots off the lead, fired a sensational final-round 62 at the Signature Jack Nicklaus-designed Houghton Golf Club to catapult himself into contention before edging out South Africans Jacques Kruyswijk and Shaun Norris in extra holes.
"It's awesome. A little bit surprised there, I thought we were having to go again (to another play-off hole)," Hill, 34, admitted. "And then the lightning is ridiculous, so I don't know what was going to happen, but yeah, I'm delighted. It was a fantastic day, and this is the cherry on top."
Hill was relentless in his pursuit, carding five birdies and a bogey on the front nine before igniting his charge on the back nine with another birdie at the 11th, followed by a hat-trick from the 13th. A bogey on the 16th momentarily halted his momentum, but a remarkable birdie on the last—helped by a fortunate bounce—put him in the clubhouse at 14 under par, setting a formidable target.
"Getting the birdie on the 18th was the only way I was going to have a chance," Hill, who was born in Kirkcaldy, a town and former royal burgh in Fife, on the east coast of Scotland, said. "I got lucky with the bounce up the slope and made a nice five-footer, and then it gave me a chance to have a go in this play-off."
Three-player Showdown
With Kruyswijk and Norris both clawing their way back to match Hill's total, a three-man showdown ensued. After all three parred the first extra hole, Hill's steady par on the second proved enough for victory as Norris found the water and Kruyswijk missed a five-foot putt.
"You never know how a play-off is going to go. I think that might be my first play-off ever, so it's nice to have a 1-0 record on that!" Hill quipped.
For Norris, the day was a rollercoaster. The 42-year-old began with a commanding four-shot lead but saw it evaporate after early bogeys. Despite battling back with birdies at the fifth and sixth, a costly double bogey on the 12th opened the door for his challengers. He produced a late charge, holing a monster birdie putt at the last to force extra holes, but ultimately faltered in the play-off.
Missed Opportunity
Kruyswijk, meanwhile, carded a composed 66, staying in the mix with birdies at the 17th before his play-off hopes ended with a missed opportunity from five feet.
The thrilling finale also brought the curtain down on the International Swing, with England's Laurie Canter finishing atop the standings. But on this Sunday in Johannesburg, the spotlight belonged to Calum Hill—gutsy, composed, and a champion once again.
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