Nerveless Thomas Pieters cards a closing 68 to win the Portugal Masters in a dramatic final round to secure his spot in the season-ending DP World Tour Championship
- Thomas Pieters carded a closing 68 to win the Portugal Masters on Sunday
- The Belgian secured a place in the season-ending DP World Tour Championship
- The former Ryder Cup star was in a three-way tie at the top in the closing stages
- He was two clear of Matthieu Pavon, Nicolai Hojgaard and Lucas Bjerregaard
Former Ryder Cup star Thomas Pieters held his nerve on a chaotic afternoon in Vilamoura to card a closing 68 and win the Portugal Masters — and a place in the season-ending DP World Tour Championship.
The Belgian was in a three-way tie at the top in the closing stages but finished at 19 under, two shots clear of Matthieu Pavon, Nicolai Hojgaard and Lucas Bjerregaard.
Pieters, who had won just once since 2016 — the Czech Masters in 2019 — said: ‘Two years is a long time.
Former Ryder Cup star Thomas Pieters carded a closing 68 and win the Portugal Masters
‘I’ve had a child in the meantime, who talks and runs around. I’ve never missed the end of the Race to Dubai and didn’t want to miss it.
‘I didn’t care if I finished first, second or third. I just wanted to get there, but winning is amazing.’
England’s Matthew Jordan finished at 13 under, two shots clear of Richard Bland.
The Belgian finished 19 under to sit two shots clear of his nearest rivals in the closing stages