Monday 25 May 2015 10:47, UK
Byeong Hun An ended a record-breaking BMW PGA Championship as only the third rookie to win the European Tour's flagship event after a stunning performance on the final day.
The South Korean displayed composure beyond his 23 years on the biggest stage as he left a high-quality chasing pack in his wake with a flawless seven-under 65, earning him a comprehensive six-shot victory over veteran duo Miguel Angel Jimenez and Thongchai Jaidee.
An, who emulated the likes of Bernard Gallacher and Arnold Palmer by winning on his debut at Wentworth, collected his maiden victory in thrilling style after starting the final round tied for the lead with Francesco Molinari.
The 2009 US Amateur champion soon found himself in the outright lead when Molinari fluffed a chip at the opening hole and bogeyed, and An went two clear with a confident 15-foot putt for birdie at the second.
Jaidee then closed within one of the leader with birdies at the fourth and fifth, and the Thai made it three in a row at the next after An had got up and down from a bunker at the long fourth to set up a four.
Molinari revived his chances with birdies at the fourth and fifth, only to give both shots back at seven and nine to leave An heading into the back nine with a one-shot advantage over Jaidee.
But An then moved up another gear with a sublime approach to three feet for a kick-in birdie at the 11th, moments before Chris Wood fired a tournament-record fifth ace of the week when he holed his 178-yard seven-iron at 14 to win a £100,000 BMW i8.
Wood's playing partner Shane Lowry immediately pointed to the car on display behind the tee and with the gull-wing doors open, the 6ft 6in Wood took the opportunity to get in the passenger side to try it out for size.
Near albatross
Back at the 12th, An extended his lead further with a remarkable 191-yard second which came within inches of finding the cup for an albatross, while crowd-favourite Jimenez suddenly put pressure on the 23-year-old with a run of three straight birdies from the 13th lifting him to 15 under.
But An simply responded with another pure iron to three feet on the 15th for his fourth birdie of the day, and he effectively put the tournament beyond reach with a well-crafted four at the penultimate hole.
JImenez, who made his third hole-in-one of the season on the third day, atoned for a bogey at 16 with a birdie at the next before parring the last to return a 67, while Jaidee could not build on his front-nine birdie blitz and parred the final five holes for a 69 which got him into the clubhouse alongside the Spaniard on 15 under.
Wood followed his ace with birdies at two of the next three holes, but he cost himself the chance of a share of second when his attempt to reach the 18th green in two came up short and found the water.
The Bristolian had to settle for a 66 and outright fourth on 13 under, while Molinari birdied 15 and 17 either side of an ugly double-bogey six, and the Italian missed a tiny birdie putt on the last green to finish with a disappointing 74.
Molinari then left the stage clear for An to two-putt for a cast-iron par which saw him break yet another tournament record with his winning score of 21 under par.
