Rolex Series

Local heroes - The awesome foursome to claim Rolex Series glory on home soil

Over the last eight years, the DP World Tour has hosted 48 Rolex Series events in eight countries and produced 29 different winners.

Robert MacIntyre

But only four of those winners have lifted a trophy on home soil as Branden Grace, Danny Willett, Tyrrell Hatton and most recently Robert MacIntyre sent the home fans wild.

Here, we take a look at back at those four memorable weeks in the DP World Tour's blue riband events.

Branden Grace - 2017 Nedbank Golf Challenge hosted by Gary Player

It did not take long for home fans to have something to cheer at a Rolex Series event as South African Grace claimed victory at Gary Player Country Club.

The seventh event in the Rolex Series' inaugural season saw the final group of Grace, Victor Dubuisson and Scott Jamieson producing an enthralling final-day battle, with Grace emerging victorious for an eighth DP World Tour win. The trio shared the lead with four holes to play but a brilliant 40-foot birdie putt on the 16th moved Grace to 11 under and handed him a one-shot victory over Jamieson after a 66. Frenchman Dubuisson was then at nine under, two shots clear of China's Li Haotong.

"This is awesome," he said. "This is the one event that as a South African you want to win. It's Africa's Major for a reason and what a special place it is. There's a lot of history and a lot of great winners on the trophy and I'm very glad to be able to put my name on the trophy as well. I had to stay patient and I had to take the chances when they came my way. I missed a couple of short ones but I think the big key was the putt on 16."

Branden Grace

Danny Willett - 2019 BMW PGA Championship

Englishman Willett won his second Rolex Series title as he held his nerve down the stretch to overcome Jon Rahm in a dramatic final round at Wentworth Club.

The duo had been locked together since the end of round two and went blow for blow over the weekend in an enthralling battle in front of bumper crowds. Willett jumped out into a two-shot lead with two early birdies on Sunday and while Rahm kept the pressure on during a round where the momentum was as changeable as the autumn weather, Willett signed for a closing 67 to get to 20 under and claim a three-shot win. South African Christiaan Bezuidenhout was then at 16 under after a 68, a shot clear of American duo Billy Horschel and Patrick Reed.

After missing the cut at DP World Tour HQ in 2018, Willett was 462nd in the Official World Golf Ranking as his struggle for both form and fitness continued after his victory at the 2016 Masters Tournament. A sensational maiden Rolex Series victory six months later at the DP World Tour Championship represented a stunning return to the top of the game and this victory took Willett back into the top 40 in the world.

"It doesn't get much better does it?" he said. "An emotional week. It was a good battle out there today with myself more than anyone else and it was nice to come through the other side. (I've had) an undying want to get back there. I was willing to change whatever had to be changed and I think that's pretty hard to do, it's hard to jump full throttle into something that you're not quite sure if it's going to work out or not. I was able to jump in there and I had the correct people around me. All the work that we've put in has come forward."

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        Tyrrell Hatton - 2020 BMW PGA Championship

        Home favourite Hatton realised his boyhood dream as he won the 2020 BMW PGA Championship by four shots to secure his third Rolex Series title.

        Hatton had spoken of his desire to win the event having visited Wentworth as a fan with his father when he was five years old. And although he was pushed all the way by Victor Perez in a tense final round battle, Hatton produced a short-game masterclass to finish on 19 under par after making six birdies and a single bogey in his closing 67. Perez finished alone in second on 15 under after bogeys on the 13th and 17th saw his challenge fade at a spectator-free Westworth due to the Covid-19 pandemic.

        "It's a dream come true for me really," said Hatton. "As a five-year-old walking around here I always wanted to be inside the ropes playing when I grew up. This is such a massive event and to get over the line and win here is such a special feeling. It was definitely a goal in my career to win here and I'm very thankful that I managed to get the job done today."

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              Robert MacIntyre - 2024 Genesis Scottish Open

              12 months on from suffering home heartbreak, MacIntyre birdied the last to claim an emotional victory and win his first Rolex Series title at the Genesis Scottish Open.

              The Scot produced a stunning finish in 2023 at the Renaissance Club only to see Rory McIlroy take the title but he would not be denied again in front of his adoring fans. It needed another big finish as he trailed by three on the back nine but he holed a long putt on the 14th, eagled the 16th after a remarkable approach from the rough to six feet and holed from 22 feet on the last to spark wild celebrations. His closing 67 saw him finish at 18 under, one shot clear of Australian Adam Scott and two ahead of Frenchman Romain Langasque.

              MacIntyre had been saying all week that Scotland's national open was the "one I want" following his 2023 heartbreak when he birdied the last after a remarkable second only to see McIlroy make a gain at the 17th and then produce some magic of his own to deny him at the death.

              "I've put a lot of work into this," said MacIntyre. "I've changed a lot within the team and I've just worked hard. I wanted the Scottish Open. The crowd has been unbelievable. The crowd support, the support of the Scottish people from 2017, 2018, 2019, the support has been unbelievable. Close last year but I had my chance here at the end and I just kept saying to myself, 'just take a chance, take a chance'. I took it. I can't believe it."

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