Olesen sees off Hojgaard to storm to Ras Al Khaimah victory

Thorbjorn Olesen fired a final round 67 to win his eighth DP World Tour title at the EPGA's Ras Al Khaimah Championship on Sunday.

The Dane went into the final day at Al Hamra Golf Club with a four-shot lead over compatriot Rasmus Hojgaard but that lead evaporated with a made a nervy start over the first seven holes.

Olesen responded with an eagle on the eighth which produced a three-shot swing, from which point Olesen found his comfort zone and eased to victory by six strokes, finishing 27 under par.

Hojgaard took second after going round in 69, one stroke ahead of Frenchman Frederic Lacroix who carded a 68.

"It's very special," said Olesen.

"It was still a battle out there. It got close and you've got one of the most solid players right behind you so I knew it was going to be tough and we were tied for the lead very quickly.

"I played some nice golf coming in and holed the right putts at the right time.

"To win was a goal and it was nice to get that here, especially being here at my new home," added UAE-based Olesen.

"It's always a place I like to come to," he said. "I'm really happy that I could get a win here."

Olesen's total of 261 - which included a course-record equalling 62 on Friday - is the lowest of the season on the European Tour.

His six-shot winning margin is also the biggest so far this season.

Olesen moves up to sixth in the Race to Dubai Rankings which are headed by Rory McIlroy following his win at the Dubai Desert Classic last week.

FINAL ROUND SCORES:

261: Thorbjorn Olesen (DEN) 69-62-63-67

267: Rasmus Hojgaard (DEN) 66-64-68-69

268: Frederic Lacroix (FRA) 65-69-66-68

271: Brandon Stone (RSA) 64-70-67-70, Callum Shinkwin 62-69-72-68, Yannik Paul (GER) 67-68-68-68, Keita Nakajima (JPN) 72-66-66-67, Maximilian Kieffer (GER) 69-67-69-66

272: Angel Hidalgo (ESP) 68-67-66-71, Joshua Grenville-Wood (UAE) 67-68-68-69, Sebastian Soderberg (SWE) 67-69-69-67, Richard Mansell 64-71-70-67

273: Matthis Besard (BEL) 70-64-68-71, Zander Lombard (RSA) 66-66-70-71, Mike Lorenzo-Vera (FRA) 68-67-69-69