Nacho Elvira overcame a bogey on the 72nd hole to beat Justin Harding in a playoff to claim his maiden European Tour title at the 2021 Cazoo Open.

The 34-year-old veteran entered his final day at The Celtic Manor Resort with a six-shot cushion but after a five-birdie/five bogey round of even-par 71, the Spaniard was stuck at 16 under, alongside Justin Harding, who carded a bogey-free 65.

In overtime, on the par-5 18th hole, Elvira missed a 9-foot birdie chance to win it, but then Harding three-putted from 24 feet to hand the Spaniard his first title.

Elvira’s first career victory comes in his 195th attempt and amid a horrific slump, having not recorded a top 10 in over two years with nine missed cuts in his 11 most recent starts.

“It means the world,” said Elvira. “That’s what we practice for and what we strive for. We try to win, to be at the best level on the European Tour and play with the best. It means the world to me.”

He added: “What am I doing to myself? I’m speechless right now to be honest.

“I thought I had it all pretty under control but to be honest I got pretty nervous on the last couple of putts on the regular 18. I was more calm in the play-off than I was on the 18.

“It’s a shame to see someone miss a putt, I suppose they felt the same for me when I missed but I can’t believe I won.”

Finn Mikko Korhonen posted a final-day 66 to finish on 15 under, one shot clear of Englishman Callum Shinkwin, who closed with a 67.

Japan’s Masahiro Kawamura (67) finished at 12 under to round out the top-5 money makers.

2021 Cazoo Open

Final-Round Leaderboard: Top-10

Pos-Player-To Par (Rd 4)
1. Nacho Elvira -16 (E)
2. Justin Harding -16 (-4)
3. Mikko Korhonen -15 (-5)
4. Callum Shinkwin -14 (-4)
5. Masahiro Kawamura -12 (-4)
6. Chase Hanna -11 (-2)
6. Sam Horsfield -11 (-1)
8. Bryce Easton -9 (-3)
8. Matt Wallace -9 (-1)
10. Vincent Norrman -8 (-5)
10. Wade Ormsby -8 (-4)
10. Sihwan Kim -8 (-3)
10. Jacques Kruyswijk -8 (-1)

European Tour Media press releases, post-round notes, transcripts, and statistics were used to compile this report.