Julian Suri took a giant step towards securing a debut in the season ending DP World Tour Championship, Dubai, with a stunning maiden European Tour victory at the Made in Denmark.
The 26-year-old American finished four shots ahead of David Horsey on a thrilling final day at the Himmerland Golf & Spa Resort to claim 300,000 points and jump from 151st to 60th spot in the European Tour’s Race to Dubai rankings.
The result sees his season tally swell to 421,572 points, placing him in prime position to qualify for the DP World Tour Championship, Dubai, taking place at Jumeirah Golf Estates from November 16-19.
With the win, Suri, who won the D+D REAL Czech Challenge in May, followed in the footsteps of fellow countrymen Brooks Koepka and Peter Uihlein by becoming only the third American to win on both the European Tour and Challenge Tour.
WHAT A TIME TO BE ALIVE 🏆🇩🇰💪🏽 #flexicution #shootersshoot pic.twitter.com/IoJ0u8dgav
— Julian Suri (@JulianSuri1) August 27, 2017
Nick Tarratt, Director of the European Tour International Dubai office, said: “We congratulate Julian on his maiden European Tour win. It’s great to see another promising player rise from the ranks of the Challenge Tour and we wish him all the best in his quest to qualify for the season finale in November.”
COMEBACK KING
Suri entered the final round of the Made in Denmark two shots adrift of overnight leader Horsey. However he produced a stunning seven-under par 64 to end the day four shots clear of Horsey after the Englishman, who won this event in 2015, carded a disappointing triple bogey on the 72nd hole to dash any hopes of catching the American.
For Suri it was his first European Tour triumph in only his seventh attempt and ensures he receives a category four exemption status on Tour for the rest of the season.
“It was a blast out there,” he said after the win. “Especially in that atmosphere with the fans. It was really cool. Everybody is so enthusiastic out there, with such genuine appreciation for the game and spectacle.
“I just wanted to soak it up as much as I could. I feel like my game belongs at the top of the game. This is definitely something I’ve worked for and kind of expected for a long time. But to finally come out and do it, especially after the string of good finishes this summer, is really special.”
Flawless. Suri’s final round 64 in under 3 minutes 📹 #MiDGolf pic.twitter.com/3pZUWDnjBx
— The European Tour (@EuropeanTour) August 27, 2017
RACE TO DUBAI CLIMBERS
Horsey’s runner-up finish in Denmark earned him a healthy 200,000 points. He leapfrogs from 99th to 56th place in the Race to Dubai rankings with a season total of 281,754 points and the Englishman is now only a few good finishes away from securing his place in November’s season-finale at Jumeirah Golf Estates.
Meanwhile Chris Paisley’s tied third place finish at the Made in Denmark saw him earn 93,000 points, moving him from 114th to 90th spot in the rankings with an overall season haul of 296,705 points.
Another man who improved his chances of qualifying for the season ender in the United Arab Emirates was Australia’s Wade Ormsby. He jumped from 103rd to 89th in the Race to Dubai rankings after finishing tied for sixth in Denmark.
Englishman Tommy Fleetwood remains at the head of the Race to Dubai with 3,771,122 points, whilst Spaniard Sergio Garcia is in second with a season-tally of 2,799,255 points and his young compatriot Jon Rahm sits in third spot on 2,761,857.