Eddie Pepperell produced a gutsy closing round of 72 to hold off the challenge of Alexander Björk and win his second European Tour title of the season at the Sky Sports British Masters.
The home favourite entered a rainy Sunday at Walton Heath Golf Club with a three-shot lead and while that was reduced to one at the turn, a stunning hole-out eagle on the tenth re-established his cushion.
Bogeys at the 15th and 16th set up a tense finish but Pepperell held his nerve to stay at nine under and beat Swede Björk by two shots.
Australian Lucas Herbert and England’s Jordan Smith were at five under, a shot clear of two more Englishmen in Sam Horsfield and Tom Lewis, and American Julian Suri.
Tournament host Justin Rose rounded off his week with a 70 to finish at three under and secure a place in the top ten.
Just two years ago Pepperell had to make the trip to Qualifying School to regain his playing privileges after finishing 113th on the Race to Dubai Rankings presented by Rolex.
He finished 41st last season and after claiming a maiden victory at the Commercial Bank Qatar Masters in February, this win will take him into the top ten and the top 40 in the Official World Golf Ranking.
The win is Pepperell’s sixth top ten in his last nine events and makes him the first wire-to-wire winner since Matt Wallace at the 2017 Open de Portugal at Morgado Golf Resort.
‘It’s brilliant,’ he said. ‘I said yesterday I wouldn’t know how it felt being in the lead at this event as opposed to another one but now that I’ve won it, it does feel special.
‘The crowds are great, I’ve had some great local support around a beautiful golf course – one I’ve played a lot as a junior and an amateur – so to come and win this event is really special.
‘It was such a tough day with the conditions. I didn’t swing it very well from the get-go and it was really hard then to find it. It was an absolute grind for four or five hours. It just shows how important it is to build a lead when things are going well for you.
‘I’m delighted to go wire-to-wire, especially at this event, I’m over the moon.’
Credit: European Tour
