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Nervy Broberg seals Dutch Open triumph

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Kristoffer Broberg, here with his first European Tour trophy, now has another from the Dutch Open.
Camera IconKristoffer Broberg, here with his first European Tour trophy, now has another from the Dutch Open. Credit: AP

Kristoffer Broberg, of Sweden, has shot a tense level-par 72 to finish at 23-under-par and win the Dutch Open for his second European Tour victory and first since beating Patrick Reed in a playoff to clinch the 2015 BMW Masters.

The 35-year-old set course records at the Bernardus club in Cromvoirt in the second and third rounds, shooting a 64 on Friday and an 11-under 61 on Saturday.

But the 772nd-ranked Swede struggled in Sunday's denouement, despite starting the day with an eight-shot lead, as Alejandro Canizares and Marcus Schmid both piled on the pressure with five-under 31s on the front nine.

"The game wasn't there today. I was struggling all day," he said.

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Schmid reduced the lead to just two shots on the par-five 12th, but it could have been worse for Broberg - he chipped in for a bogey while Schmid left an eagle putt just short of the cup.

Schmid then made a double-bogey five on the 13th to take the pressure off Broberg in a rollercoaster back nine for the leader.

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The German finished second on 20-under, two shots ahead of Canizares, who shot a double-bogey seven on the 18th.

Broberg rolled in a birdie putt on the 17th to give himself a three-shot cushion going to the 18th and held his nerve for a regulation par five on the final hole to close out the first European Tour victory by any Swede at the Dutch Open since Peter Hanson in 2012.

It was a return to form for a player whose playing schedule has been restricted in recent years by hip and knee injuries.

"Six years of hell," he said before choking up with emotion after his victory.

Broberg also recently visited an optician in Sweden who gave him a contact lens for his right eye.

"Now I can see the lines," he said earlier in the week.

Australian Maverick Antcliff had a good final round of 69 to move up to eight-under for the tournament and finish in joint 27th position.

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