Scotsman Grant Forrest wins Nexo Championship by four shots

The Herald Scotland

5 hours ago

A closing double-bogey seven on the last was not what you'd call a grandstand finish, but Forrest had done the hard work and could afford his little luxury of a few extra blows down the 18th.
He was leading by six shots, after all. Scottie Scheffler won the Masters in 2022 with a four-putt double-bogey on the last and most folk have probably forgotten about that.
Forrest won't be dwelling on his own double either as he savoured the second DP World Tour win of his career, four years after his first in the Hero Open at Fairmont St Andrews. He likes the home comforts.
A level-par 72 gave Forrest an eight-under aggregate and a four-shot victory over England's Joe Dean. The 32-year-old also picked up a cheque for £298,600.
He also picked up his seven-month-old son, Spencer, in jubilation before getting his hands on the trophy. Wee Spencer may already be thinking of what faither can buy him as a treat
This was a terrific week for Forrest. A season of toil has suddenly been energised as he became the third Scottish winner on the circuit this year, after Calum Hill at the Joburg Open and Connor Syme in the KLM Open.
Coming into the latest stop on the DP World Tour, the former Scottish Amateur champion was down in the danger zone in terms of tour status.
His win has hoisted him up into 28th spot on the rankings and, all of sudden, he's looking upwards instead of peering over his shoulder.
'Both wins are special, but this feels even more so, having the wee man here along with the whole family,' smiled Forrest as he savoured his latest victory on Scottish turf.
"I think it is the same week as I won four years ago on the calendar so just amazing. That must say something about this week and being at home.
"It was a tough day out there today. I didn't play my best stuff at all but made a lot of good par saves on the front nine.
"I just can't believe it. It's been such a tough year on the golf course. It's just a crazy game that you can go and come out and do this, with what feels like something out of nowhere.
"It certainly has (turned my season around). I was way down the rankings a couple of months ago, tried to play a bit better but at this stage of the season, I was right on the bubble.
"It's just that old chestnut that one week can turn things around and it has."
Forrest had led by three shots overnight and that was swiftly reduced to two when he parred the first but Daan Huizing and Todd Clements both birdied. That would be as close as anyone got, though.
On another tricky old day, there were always going to be some hairy moments, particularly with a title on the line, but Forrest dug in.
A couple of birdies at the fourth and seventh certainly settled him down and by the time he reached the turn, he was six shots clear.
He may have had the kind of large, comfortable cushion that you'd get in a Bedouin tent but, with menace and mischief lurking all over the links, there was no room to relax.
The 12th hole could've been particularly costly when he plunged his ball well right into the thick stuff and had to take an unplayable. Forrest's recovery, though, was terrific and he managed to escape with just a bogey.
There was no real damage done. A couple more good par saves at 16 and 17, couple by leaked shots from those making a forlorn effort to close the gap, ensured that Forrest held a six-shot lead standing on the 18th tee.
No lead is big enough, though. With the nerves building up on that daunting, elevated tee, Forrest hoiked his drive into the hazards and had to take a drop.
He still had plenty of shots to play with and there would be no Jean van de Velde-style farce. He inched his way up the 18th and polished off the victory. It was the best double-bogey seven of his career.
'It was a day where I thought it was going to be tough for someone to chase,' added the new champion.
'I knew that if I didn't drop any shots, there were going to be plenty of good chances for me and I managed to do that for the most part.
'Even the bogey on 12 after the tee shot is something I'd have taken and then I made good saves on 16 and 17 as well to give me a good cushion coming down 18.'
The bubbly was richly deserved.