Daniel Hillier impresses despite not winning in Dubai
Daniel Hillier – file photo Photosport NZ / NZ Open
He might not have won the event he led for so long, but New Zealander Daniel Hillier’s impressive runner-up finish at the Hero Dubai Desert Classic is a further indication of just how far the 26-year-old Wellingtonian might go in his professional career.
Hillier finished just one shot behind Tyrell Hatton but the manner in which he and Hatton traded blows throughout the final 18 holes at the Emirates Golf Club was yet another platform on which Hillier can look back on as he moves forward.
Beginning the day one ahead of Hatton, who was playing his 200th DP World Tour event compared to Hillier’s 68 starts, both players bogeyed the opening hole but, by the turn, Hatton was two ahead.
Hillier grabbed one back when he birdied the 10th and 11th and although both would bogey the 12th Hatton birdied the 16th to go two ahead playing the last.
Hatton was forced to lay up at the par 5 last while Hillier from the middle of the fairway missed the green long. Hatton’s 3rd finished some 40 feet from the hole and when Hillier got up and down for birdie Hatton was left with a 4 footer for the win.
Hatton’s win was second in his last four DP World Tour starts, which also included a runner-up finish. It was his eighth career victory. It took his career earnings beyond €25 million.
Hillier’s cheque for €961,000 for his runner-up finish was the biggest of his career to date (he won547,000 for his 2023 British Masters victory) and will move him to second place in the Race to Dubai rankings for the season.
“It’s bittersweet, that’s for sure,” said Hillier referring to the near miss. “Yeah, I didn’t have my best today, obviously, but I fought hard all day. Yeah, just barely gave myself a chance down the stretch.
“Hats off to Tyrrell. He was pretty solid down the stretch there. He’s class. We will done to him.
“One of my goals is to get off to a better start than I did the last couple of seasons. Kind of been playing catchup from the second half of the year, and yeah, it’s just nice to start off solid and come back here and have one of my best performances.”
England’s Laurie Canter closed with a round of 68 to finish 3rd just one behind Hillier.
Australian David Micheluzzi closed with round of the day 65 to finish in a share of 8th and earned €207,000 while Ryan Fox was the next best of the Australasians in a share of 10th place.
