Wu's birdie blitz seals Magical comeback

Chinese ace storms to fourth title on tour by erasing huge overnight deficit

China's Wu Ashun captured his fourth DP World Tour title on Sunday with victory at the Magical Kenya Open, overturning a four-shot overnight deficit to finish four clear at the top.

The 36-year-old carded four birdies in a row from the seventh hole and signed for a 65 and a 16-under total. Already the most successful Chinese player in the history of the circuit－formerly known as the European Tour－his latest title is also one for the annals as he became the first Asian winner in the 55-year history of Kenya's national open.

"Today I was four shots behind and still playing to my plan. Five-under was my goal today and after 10 holes I had a good feeling and I told myself I'll keep playing and make a couple of birdies and it's fine," Wu told the DP World Tour website.

"My short game was good today also. I saved a couple of pars, my putting was good to make birdies on the 17th and 18th."

Wu became the third Chinese mainland winner in DP World Tour history when he won the 2015 Volvo China Open and since then he has added wins in Austria and the Netherlands, with this triumph moving him two victories ahead of countryman Li Haotong.

He will also move up to sixth on the Race to Dubai Rankings, the tour's money list.

His wife and 13-week-old baby watched at Muthaiga Golf Club in Nairobi, as well as a sizable contingent of Chinese spectators.

"I think a lot of Chinese people came to support me and I was happy to see them," said Wu. "It's going to be a big celebration with my family here in Kenya with me. I'm so happy."

Canadian Aaron Cockerill, South African Thriston Lawrence and German Hurly Long finished four shots back.

Wu's last title on the DP World Tour was back in 2018 at the KLM Open in the Netherlands, and he admitted it was nice to savor victory once more.

"It's a very, very good feeling today to win a championship. It was very tough today. I played very, very well today and made seven birdies," he said.

Wu explained he had a clear strategy heading into the weekend.

"After two rounds, I told myself if I can make 5-under every day on the weekend and finish 15-under, I think I'll have a chance to win the tournament," he said.

Wu pulled away from Lawrence, Long and Cockerill on the back nine to secure a four-stroke victory. Just four of the top 100 players in the world rankings took part in the event.

Wu began the day four shots back from leader Ewen Ferguson, but the Scot struggled from the off and opened the door to a wave of title contenders on a thrilling final day.

Despite a bogey at the second hole, Wu forced his way back into the mix. A run of four successive birdies from the seventh gave him a two-stroke lead.

Thereafter, he was composure personified and a birdie-birdie finish rounded off a 6-under 65－his best round of the week－for a 16-under-par winning total.

Long and Cockerill both enjoyed the best results of their DP World Tour careers, sharing second place with Lawrence, winner of the season-opening Joburg Open, on 12-under.

"I couldn't ask for any better," said Lawrence. "I just didn't get the momentum from the 12th hole, hit a good shot on the 13th and missed the putt, hit an awesome drive on 14 but got a bad break and missed a four-footer (1.2 meters) there.

"The momentum dropped on the back nine, played aggressive on the last two holes, went for the green on 17 and birdied that, got unfortunate on 18 but seven shots behind, I gave it my all."

Cockerill was delighted with his week's work, saying: "I played the Challenge Tour the last few weeks and didn't really play great down there but it's different grass. As soon as I got here and got on the greens the first day I was happy to see some bent grass again.

"It was just an awesome week and I'll just keep building off it and move forward."