Nicolai Hojgaard acknowledged he had required “a clutch finish” after he became the first winner of the Ras Al Khaimah Championship presented by Phoenix Capital.
The 20-year-old Dane finished on 24-under par to win the title in Al Hamra Golf Club’s debut on the DP World Tour.
The four-stroke margin of victory appeared convincing, but the champion required a comeback over the last six holes to quell the challenge of Jordan Smith.
Hojgaard held a five-stroke lead after firing an eagle 4 at the course’s signature hole, the par-5 third.
And yet a combination of fine scoring by Smith, plus a double-bogey and bogey in the space of four holes meant Hojgaard was two behind playing the 13th.
He followed a birdie there with an extraordinary eagle at the next. He drove his tee shot 356 yards into wasteland, but struck a 5-iron from the sand 249 yards to finish nine feet from the hole.
Coincidentally, Smith finished on the same score – 20-under par – as the last time he played competitively at Al Hamra, in 2016.
Back then, his total was good enough to land him the first Ras Al Khaimah Challenge title. This time, though, the Englishman fell just short of victory.
“It is very sweet, as it has been such a tough grind today,” Hojgaard said.
“I got off to a good start but then I was struggling quite a bit and I had to dig deep out there.
“The turning point was on 13 when I saw Jordan Smith had made a run and was two-up. I stepped up with a clutch finish so I am really happy.”
The win was Hojgaard’s second in his past 10 tournaments on the DP World Tour. Between him and his twin brother Rasmus, they already have five titles before their 21st birthday.
The tour will remain in the northern Emirate this week, as the Ras Al Khaimah Classic – replacing the postponed Qatar Masters – will also be played at Al Hamra.
Benefits of first-time home buyers' scheme
- Priority access to new homes from participating developers
- Discounts on sales price of off-plan units
- Flexible payment plans from developers
- Mortgages with better interest rates, faster approval times and reduced fees
- DLD registration fee can be paid through banks or credit cards at zero interest rates
'Outclassed in Kuwait'
Taleb Alrefai,
HBKU Press
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
Hotel Silence
Auður Ava Ólafsdóttir
Pushkin Press
Tearful appearance
Chancellor Rachel Reeves set markets on edge as she appeared visibly distraught in parliament on Wednesday.
Legislative setbacks for the government have blown a new hole in the budgetary calculations at a time when the deficit is stubbornly large and the economy is struggling to grow.
She appeared with Keir Starmer on Thursday and the pair embraced, but he had failed to give her his backing as she cried a day earlier.
A spokesman said her upset demeanour was due to a personal matter.
In numbers: PKK’s money network in Europe
Germany: PKK collectors typically bring in $18 million in cash a year – amount has trebled since 2010
Revolutionary tax: Investigators say about $2 million a year raised from ‘tax collection’ around Marseille
Extortion: Gunman convicted in 2023 of demanding $10,000 from Kurdish businessman in Stockholm
Drug trade: PKK income claimed by Turkish anti-drugs force in 2024 to be as high as $500 million a year
Denmark: PKK one of two terrorist groups along with Iranian separatists ASMLA to raise “two-digit million amounts”
Contributions: Hundreds of euros expected from typical Kurdish families and thousands from business owners
TV channel: Kurdish Roj TV accounts frozen and went bankrupt after Denmark fined it more than $1 million over PKK links in 2013
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Range: Up to 610km
Power: 905hp
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UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
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Abu Dhabi GP schedule
Friday: First practice - 1pm; Second practice - 5pm
Saturday: Final practice - 2pm; Qualifying - 5pm
Sunday: Etihad Airways Abu Dhabi Grand Prix (55 laps) - 5.10pm
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How to watch Ireland v Pakistan in UAE
When: The one-off Test starts on Friday, May 11
What time: Each day’s play is scheduled to start at 2pm UAE time.
TV: The match will be broadcast on OSN Sports Cricket HD. Subscribers to the channel can also stream the action live on OSN Play.
UAE squad to face Ireland
Ahmed Raza (captain), Chirag Suri (vice-captain), Rohan Mustafa, Mohammed Usman, Mohammed Boota, Zahoor Khan, Junaid Siddique, Waheed Ahmad, Zawar Farid, CP Rizwaan, Aryan Lakra, Karthik Meiyappan, Alishan Sharafu, Basil Hameed, Kashif Daud, Adithya Shetty, Vriitya Aravind
RESULTS
Women:
55kg brown-black belt: Amal Amjahid (BEL) bt Amanda Monteiro (BRA) via choke
62kg brown-black belt: Bianca Basilio (BRA) bt Ffion Davies (GBR) via referee’s decision (0-0, 2-2 adv)
70kg brown-black belt: Ana Carolina Vieira (BRA) bt Jessica Swanson (USA), 9-0
90kg brown-black belt: Angelica Galvao (USA) bt Marta Szarecka (POL) 8-2
Men:
62kg black belt: Joao Miyao (BRA) bt Wan Ki-chae (KOR), 7-2
69kg black belt: Paulo Miyao (BRA) bt Gianni Grippo (USA), 2-2 (1-0 adv)
77kg black belt: Espen Mathiesen (NOR) bt Jake Mackenzie (CAN)
85kg black belt: Isaque Braz (BRA) bt Faisal Al Ketbi (UAE), 2-0
94kg black belt: Felipe Pena (BRA) bt Adam Wardzinski (POL), 4-0
110kg black belt final: Erberth Santos (BRA) bt Lucio Rodrigues (GBR) via rear naked choke
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