Victor Perez’s wonder shot lights up win, as the Frenchman sealed a one-stroke victory at the Abu Dhabi Championship to set up a big 2023 for him as he moved second in Europe’s Ryder Cup qualification standings
- Victor Perez won the Abu Dhabi Championship by one-stroke on Sunday
- It moved the Frenchman second in Europe’s Ryder Cup qualification standings
- He took the victory with a superb bunker shot on the par-three 17th hole
The best shot of Victor Perez’s life has set up what is likely to be the biggest year of the Frenchman’s career so far.
At the Abu Dhabi Championship on Sunday, Perez spun a bunker shot back into the hole for birdie at the 17th and celebrated wildly on the way to shooting a six-under 66 for a one-stroke victory.
The win at Yas Links was Perez’s third on the European Tour and easily his biggest to date, while he has also climbed into second place in Europe’s Ryder Cup qualification standings.
Victor Perez won the Abu Dhabi Championship on Sunday by one-stroke after a stellar shot
The victory moved the Frenchman into second place in qualifying for Europe’s Ryder Cup team
‘It was probably the greatest shot I’ve ever hit,’ said an emotional Perez after sealing £1.2million in prize money. ‘There’s a lot of big things coming up, I’ve had a really good off-season, I’ve worked really hard.’
Despite a nervy bogey on the 18th, Perez finished on 18 under par for the tournament, with Sebastian Soderberg and Min Woo Lee tied for second place.
The highlight of Perez’s round came on the par-three 17th, after the 30-year-old left his tee shot short and in a greenside bunker. His second shot went 10 feet beyond the hole and spun back into it, as Perez leapt out of the sand to celebrate.
Sweden’s Sebastian Soderberg was one of two golfers to be tied second behind Perez
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