Olesen holds on to win as Dunne challenge fades

DENMARK’S Thorbjorn Olesen kept his nerve to win the Alfred Dunhill Links Championship by two strokes at St Andrews yesterday and ease the pain of narrowly missing out in 2012. Olesen (below), who recorded his third European Tour victory, led by three shots going into the final round but a double bogey on the second hole and a bogey on the third saw him pegged back. He responded immediately with birdies at the fourth and fifth, and never looked back as he avenged his runner-up spot at the pro-am event three years ago. Ireland’s newest pro Paul Dunne fell away after his heroics early in the event, scoring 70 to finish six behind Olesen and level with compatriots Shane Lowry and Graeme McDowell in 19th place. The Dane fired a one-underpar 71 to finish at 18-under 270 for the week, two clear of Americans Brooks Koepka (67) and Chris Stroud (68). ‘I got too aggressive on the second hole. I hit a great drive down there and felt like I had a good yardage. I was just too aggressive, and as soon as you get too aggressive on a links golf course, you get punished,’ Olesen said. ‘I just kept myself together and knew that I have tried it before, so stayed very patient. ‘Finishing off at St Andrews is a great feeling. I kept believing I would be back here again. It was nice this week just to play three great rounds of golf, then hold it together in the last.’ The win lifts Olesen to 25th in The Race to Dubai and he will also enter the world rankings top 75.