Scott Hend floors Ernie Els to win Macau Open
Big-hitting Aussie scores three-shot win as South African superstar struggles
Australian Scott Hend put South African star Ernie Els on the ropes after nine holes, then boxed clever for the rest of the final round to win the US$800,000 Venetian Macau Open by three shots on Sunday.
US-based Hend shot a final-round 67 for a 16-under par total of 268 to beat Indian Anirban Lahiri, who equalled the course record of nine-under 62, with Els (67) finishing in a tie for third with Elmer Salvador (66) of the Philippines at 12 under.
Hend, 40, started the day four shots clear of world number 23 Els but a two-shot swing on the ninth hole gave Hend a huge advantage going into the back nine at the Macau Golf and Country Club.
As Els struggled to get back into the fight it was left to Lahiri to light up the course but an eight-shot deficit at the start of the day proved insurmountable.
Hend could afford to break into a smile when he hit the green from the tee-box high up on the mountaintop at the signature par-three 17th hole. He parred the hole, then cruised down the final hole to victory.
It’s great to match up with these guys and my dream is to get back on the PGA Tour
It was Hend’s third win on the Asian Tour this year and he collected a cheque of US$144,000. He has already won the Chiangmai Golf Classic and Mercuries Taiwan Masters this year.
