Emotional Wilson wins Dunhill Links

Oliver Wilson finally won his first European Tour title with a one-shot win in the Alfred Dunhill Links Championship yesterday. 

The former Ryder Cupper, who finished runner-up nine times on the European Tour before losing his card, shot a final round 70 at St Andrews to finish 17-under, a shot ahead of world No 1 Rory McIlroy, Tommy Fleetwood and Richie Ramsay. Fleetwood, who was playing with Wilson, missed from eight feet for birdie on the 18th hole to force a play-off, while Ramsay bogeyed the 16th and 17th for his 67.

McIlroy doubled the first after misjudging his approach and seeing his ball spin back off the green into the Swilcan Burn, and though he birdied the next four holes – along with others on the 10th and 12th – his victory chances ended when he putted into the infamous Road Hole bunker on the 17th. 

But he was over the moon for the popular Englishman, who has struggled to find the form that saw him bag nine runner-up finishes and make Nick Faldo’s 2008 Ryder Cup team. McIlroy tweeted: “Don’t think I could’ve chosen a better person to finish 2nd to this week! Congrats @Oliver-Wilson so well deserved!”

Wilson is ranked 102nd on the Challenge Tour but claimed the first prize of almost £500,000 and a two-year exemption on the European Tour, moving from 252nd to 39th on the Race to Dubai.

“I don’t have words for it,” Wilson told Sky Sports. “It’s been 10, 11 years coming, nine runners-up and I hadn’t done a whole lot (wrong) to lose those but nothing has really gone my way. When I came here at the start of the week I was just trying to make the cut and each day my confidence grew.

“I didn’t play as well today but I finished second a few years ago and knew what to to and I was pleased how I stood up to hit some really good shots. I’ve been playing pretty well but I went to see Rob Rock two weeks and spent a lot of time working with him on my swing, and he gave me confidence to go and play.”