As part of our series of year-end reviews, here’s a look at the winners of the seven Rolex Series events of the 2017 European Tour season.
NOREN WINS BMW PGA
Date: May 28 2017
Event: BMW PGA Championship
Winner: Alex Noren -11
Runner Up: Francesco Molinari -9
What Happened: Alex Noren entered the final round at the BMW PGA Championship tied for 20th, seven strokes behind leader Andrew Dodt of Australia, and with 17 other world-class professional golfers between him and the leader. But after shooting a course-record 10-under 62 on Sunday, highlighted by an eagle on the 18th, the 34-year-old Swede beat them all, and captured the BMW PGA.
FLEETWOOD TAKES FRANCE
Date: July 2, 2017
Event: HNA Open de France
Winner: Tommy Fleetwood -12
Runner Up: Peter Uihlein -11
What Happened: The 26-year-old Englishman, who made headlines in the U.S. when he contended at the U.S. Open, won the European Tour’s most recent event, the HNA Open de France over the weekend. At 12 under for the tournament, Fleetwood beat American Peter Uihlein by a single shot, notching his second victory of the season and propelling to the top of the European Tour’s Race to Dubai standings.
RAHM ROUTS FIELD IN IRELAND
Date: July 9, 2017
Event: Dubai Duty Free Irish Open
Winner: Jon Rahm -24
Runner Up: Matthew Southgate, Matthew Southgate -18
What Happened: Jon Rahm closed with a 7-under 65 on Sunday at Portstewart Golf Club to capture the Dubai Duty Free Irish Open by six strokes over Richie Ramsay and Matthew Southgate. Rahm posted two eagles and five birdies during his final round to finish at 24-under-par, a new tournament record.
CABRERA BELLO SCORES SCOTTISH OPEN
Date: July 16 2017
Event: Aberdeen Asset Management Scottish Open
Winner: Rafa Cabrera Bello -13
Runner Up: Callum Shinkwin -13
What Happened: Spain’s Rafael Cabrera Bello posted a course-record 8-under 64 on Sunday, and edged England’s Callum Shinkwin in a playoff to win the 2017 Scottish Open at Dundonald Links.
HOT HATTON WINS ITALIAN OPEN
Date: Oct. 15 2017
Event: Italian Open
Winner: Tyrrell Hatton -21
Runner Up: Kiradech Aphibarnrat, Ross Fisher -20
What Happened: Tyrrell Hatton won on the European Tour for the second week in a row. The 26-year old star followed up last week’s dramatic win at the Dunhill Links Championship by capturing the Italian Open with a birdie on the 72nd hole.
IT’S ROSE IN TURKEY
Date: Nov. 5 2017
Event: Turkish Airlines Open
Winner: Justin Rose -18
Runner Up: Dylan Frittelli, Nicolas Colsaerts -17
What Happened: Justin Rose capped off another fantastic week of golf with a birdie on the 72nd hole to reach 18-under par and capture the Turkish Airlines Open by a single stroke.
GRACE WINS IN SOUTH AFRICA
Date: Nov. 12 2017
Event: Nedbank Golf Challenge hosted by Gary Player
Winner: Branden Grace -11
Runner Up: Scott Jamieson -10
What Happened: Branden Grace fired a final-round 6-under 66, overcoming a three-shot deficit, to capture the Nedbank Golf Challenge in his native South Africa. The 29-year old hit 18 of 18 greens en route to a bogey-free final round which included six birdies – none bigger than a 40-foot tournament-clincher on the par-3 16th.
RAHM CAPTURES FINALE IN DUBAI
Date: Nov. 19 2017
Event: DP World Tour Championship, Dubai
Winner: Jon Rahm -19
Runner Up: Shane Lowry, Kiradech Aphibarnrat -18
What Happened: Jon Rahm fired a final-round 7-under 65 at Jumeirah Golf Estates to capture the DP World Tour Championship, Dubai, while a late stumble by Justin Rose handed the Race to Dubai title to Tommy Fleetwood. Rahm, playing in the penultimate group with South African Dean Burmester, closed with a 33 to get to 19 under and win his second Rolex Series title by one shot.
Credits: Getty Images
