Daniel Gavins wins DP World Tour’s Ras Al Khaimah Championship: Final leaderboard explored

Daniel Gavins escaped a dramatic turn of events on the 18th hole to emerge victorious on the final day of the Ras Al Khaimah Championship, a DP World Tour Event.

Prior to the final hole, Gavins was holding a two-shot lead. Alexander Björk finished the 18th with a bogey and all Gavins needed was to avoid the water on the 18th at Al Hamra Golf Club. However, he didn't miss the water, not once but twice. He eventually putt in a double bogey to win the title by a single-stroke margin.

Gavins came to the Ras Al Khaimah Championship with a back injury, which is why he didn't even play a practice round before the rounds kicked off. However, he did impressively well in the first 54 holes, carding 14 under to be in a good position on Sunday.

The 31-year-old hit six birdies on the front nine to get himself in a comfortable position. While everyone thought he was at a comfortable lead with five under after the 17th, his tee shot on the final hole flew into the water. The same thing happened in the second shot as well, and suddenly, there was some drama.

Gavins had no idea that Bjork had shot a bogey on his last hole.

“It was a difficult hole to kind of get through. I thought I was hole-ing that for the playoff. When I holed the putt and went to the back of the green and saw that I was actually winning still, it was kind of a big shock.” Gavins explained.

This is Gavins' second DP World Tour victory and he's into his fifth season on the Tour.

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Final leaderboard at Ras Al Khaimah

Alexander Bjork hit a final hole bogey to finish in the runner-up position at Ras Al Khaimah

Daniel Gavins concluded the final round at Ras Al Khaimah with 3-under 69 that included eight birdies, three bogeys, and a final hole double bogey.

Alexander Bjork carded the final round of 68. He missed a birdie putt on the 18th but then failed to even make a par putt, leading him to settle for the joint runner-up position.

Along with Bjork, Zander Lombard also finished at the T-2 position. Prior to the final round, Lombard was leading by two shots, but the fourth round 72 resulted in him slipping below. He shot four birdies and an eagle on Sunday but hit six bogeys as well. Lombard was trailing by two strokes prior to the 72nd hole but he could only hit a birdie on the last hole.

Poland's Adrian Meronk and Denmark's Thorbjorn Olesen ended up in a tied fourth position at 15 under. Meronk shot a 65 while Olesen closed with a 67 on Day 4 at Al Hamra Golf Club.

Rikuya Hoshino, Adri Arnaus and Rasmus Højgaard finished at T-6 at 14 under. Englishman Ross Fisher was impressive on Sunday with a low 65 finish, ending up tied ninth with an aggregate of 13 under.