Max Kieffer ended a nine-year wait for his maiden DP World Tour title as he triumphed at the D+D REAL Czech Masters.
The German, making his 249th appearance on the DP World Tour, carded a six under par final round 66 to finish one stroke ahead of Gavin Green at Albatross Golf Resort.
Kieffer started the day four strokes behind Green, who led after 36 holes as the tournament was reduced to three rounds due to heavy rain on Saturday. He made a fast start with six birdies in his first 11 holes and recovered from a bogey on 15 with his seventh gain of the day on the 17th hole as he took the lead for the first time on 16 under.
The 32-year-old had previously finished runner-up on four occasions, losing out in two play-offs, one of which was decided after a marathon nine holes in his rookie season in 2013. Extra holes were on the horizon as Green, who was one under par for the day, was just one stroke back as he played the 18th hole.
The Malaysian stuck his approach shot to ten feet but his birdie putt agonisingly lipped out, handing Kieffer his first victory and his nation’s first DP World Tour title since Marcel Siem won the BMW Masters in 2014.
“I just love golf, I just love to play golf,” said the German. “Even if I hadn’t won, I’ve still had a great life, I still enjoy playing golf. Now to win, that’s even better. You just have to keep trying. I had a few difficult years where I didn’t play, this year I feel like I’m playing very well. But, deep down, you never know in golf. I’m just so glad and I’m really going to enjoy it.”
Green recorded his best finish on the DP World Tour since 2017 as he finished second on 15 under par, while South Africa’s Louis De Jager and Finland’s Tapio Pulkkanen, who was runner-up at this event last year, shared third on 14 under.
