Calum Hill claims best European Tour finish behind Dustin Johnson in Saudi International

Scotland’s Calum Hill eagled the last from 23 feet to record his best European Tour finish behind Dustin Johnson as the American cemented his world No 1 position with a second success in the Saudi International in three years.

Calum Hill and his caddie Phil Morbey during the final round of the Saudi International powered by SoftBank Investment Advisers at Royal Greens Golf and Country Club in King Abdullah Economic City. Picture: Ross Kinnaird/Getty Images.

Hill’s last-hole heroics at Royal Greens Golf & Country Club in King Abdullah Economic City earned him a share of fourth spot with Dundee-based Frenchman Victor Perez as Johnson overcame a frustrating day with his putter to record a two-shot victory.

It was the 36-year-old’s first success since being crowned as Masters champion in November, with his combined total in this event now being an impressive 44-under-par after finishing first-second-first on his visits to the Red Sea coast.

“I think it is very important,” said Johnson of his latest victory, which was secured with a closing 68 for a 15-under-total, with fellow American Tony Finau (67) and England’s Justin Rose (65) finishing in a share of second spot. “It’s definitely nice to get a win and also the first one after Augusta.”

Dustin Johnson poses with the trophy after landing his second win in the Saudi International powered by SoftBank Investment Advisers at Royal Greens Golf and Country Club in King Abdullah Economic City. Picture: Ross Kinnaird/Getty Images.

Johnson, who had started the day one ahead of Perez, found himself tied with Finau with six holes to play after missing a string of good birdie chances. He’s not the type to hit the panic button, though, and it was job done again, helped by two birdies in the closing stretch.

“I kept giving myself a lot of chances before finally holing a nice putt on 13,” added Johnson as he savoured a 28th worldwide win, having tasted success every year since 2007. “I played solid and I am very excited about the rest of the year.”

Hill, whose previous best finish had been a tie for eighth in the ISPS Handa Wales Open last August, had been third reserve for the $3.5 million event at the start of the week before grabbing his opportunity with both hands.

“Very nice way to finish, yeah,” said the 26-year-old Crook of Devon-based player of that eagle, which earned him was worth around £115,000, around double more than his biggest previous pay-day for a top-30 finish in the 2019 Scottish Open.

“I think I got the most out of my score today because there were some funky shots going on in there.”

Hill holed a long birdie putt at the 11th to move to three-under for the day before stumbling to back-to-back bogeys.

But, helped by some calming words from Ian Woosnam’s long-time caddie, Phil ‘Wobbly’ Morbey, on his bag for the first time, the three-time Challenge Tour winner regained his composure to round off a great week’s work.

“From probably not getting in at the start of the week, I would probably have taken that, for sure,” he admitted, though, by his reckoning, it wasn’t the best performance of his career.

“No, I’ll take the wins over this,” insisted Hill, “but competing in a field like this and doing pretty well is obviously a good achievement.”

Perez, who won the 2019 Alfred Dunhill Links Championship, cemented his position in the automatic Ryder Cup qualifying spots with a closing 69.

Stephen Gallacher, who had shared the lead at the halfway stage, closed with a 71 to finish in a tie for 21st on seven-under, one ahead of Bob MacIntyre (71), with David Law ending up 76th on (79) on eight-over.

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