A top-10 finish has secured Lindell’s tour card for next season!
Oliver Lindell didn’t quite manage to match Saturday’s flurry of birdies on Sunday, when he briefly set a new course record. However, the final day saw five birdies and three bogeys, resulting in a total score of -11. This third top-10 finish of the season (T10) is enough at this stage to secure the Finn’s playing rights on the main tour for next season.
In his debut season, he had to wait considerably longer for that moment, as Lindell eventually played his way all the way to the DP World Tour Finals.
“The conditions were tough today and the wind direction was completely different from previous days. That had a particular impact on my approach shots, as I wasn’t constantly sure whether the wind would help or not. My tee shots weren’t as good today, but I still putted well, even though a few of them went wide. My card is now sorted for next season, so I suppose this game will be off my mind again,” said Lindell, looking satisfied.
Lindell, representing Virvik, made a huge leap up the leaderboard over the weekend, making the cut by the skin of his teeth as one of the last players to do so and heading into the weekend in T61. Climbing 50 places was a superb performance. It was also a week to remember for this week’s winner – Yurav Premlall, who is still unknown to the general public.
The 22-year-old South African followed up Friday’s round of 64 with two rounds of 63. Yesterday’s 63-stroke round saw Premlall take the course record from Lindell, who had held it until then, whilst also claiming the £50,000 prize money from right under Lindell’s nose. The 14-stroke winning margin is the largest since Tiger Woods’ 15-stroke victory at the 2000 US Open.
Although Lindell was left disappointed yesterday as he fell short of retaining the course record and winning the prize money, he ended the week on a positive note, particularly having found the putting he had been struggling with.
“Finishing with two birdies certainly put me in a good mood at the end of the week. Now we’ll have a week’s break at home and then get back to work in Belgium.”