Grant Forrest transformed his second DP World Tour victory into a triumphant five-hour celebration at Trump International.
The 32-year-old Scotsman sailed to the Nexo Championship crown with a commanding four-shot margin after starting the final round holding a three-stroke advantage. Ultimately, he concluded exactly as he had started, maintaining his eight-under-par position following a final-round 72.
It has been revealed that Forrest received a surprise FaceTime call from Donald Trump himself, who praised him as an exceptional talent and expressed his desire to play alongside him in the United States. The President made the call on Sunday while playing a round of golf. It comes after podcaster Joe Rogan revealed a bombshell new theory about the 2024 Trump assassination attempt.
Trump additionally stated he had been following the tournament throughout the entire week. The conversation, coordinated by the golf club, occurred in the clubhouse and extended for several minutes.
Even a devastating double-bogey seven on the final hole couldn’t diminish Forrest’s determined chase of the substantial £350,000 ($470,000) winner’s purse, exceeding twice the amount he earned for his breakthrough triumph at the Hero Open at Fairmont St Andrews four years prior.
Forrest sent his opening shot left into the hazard area on the closing hole and was compelled to accept a penalty drop, ultimately settling just shy of the green in four strokes. Following three putts, he emerged as champion before his wife Christy and eight-month-old son Spencer.
“Both wins are special,” he said. “But this one feels even more so, having the wee man here along with the whole family.”
Despite having experience leading from the front in 2021, Forrest admitted: “I was really nervous, as you would be, and my three good par putts at the start really settled the nerves, as well as a brilliant second shot into four.
“It was a day where I thought it was going to be tough for someone to chase and I knew that if I didn’t drop any shots, there were going to be plenty of good chances and I managed to do that for the most part.
“Even the five on 12 after the tee shot is something I’d have taken and then I made good saves on 16 and 17 as well to give myself a good cushion coming down 18.
“I was struggling off the tee today, especially with the driver. The wind had been more in out of the right at the last and it was sort of half and half and out of the left and from that elevated tee, it is not a favourable shot for a right-hander.
“I kind of knew the red stakes were up the left so I was hugging the left side and I thought the worst I could make from there was a six or seven. So, while it was a wee bit ropey coming down 18, it was nice to have a six-shot lead at that point.”
However, Forrest revealed that only when his ball touched down on the final green could he truly savor his triumphant moment. He explained: “Even the third shot I had, it wasn’t that nice as the wind really picked up on the back nine and I flushed a 2-iron 226 yards to the front and it didn’t even reach. I was just glad to see the next one land on the green and know that I had a few putts from there to win it.”
Englishman Joe Dean claimed second place after a final round 71 brought him to four-under, one stroke clear of three competitors. Norway’s Kristoffer Reitan (74), Dane Jacob Skov Olesen (72) and John Parry (70) of England tied for third place.
Glasgow’s Marc Warren concluded in style with a 67 for a two-over total to share the honor of being second top Scot alongside Ryan Lumsden, who finished with a 75.
Perth’s Danny Young came next on four-over following a 76 while America-based Martin Laird sat two shots further back after dropping three strokes over the final two holes, including a double-bogey at 17, for a 74. Aberdonian David Law concluded on the same score as Laird following a 72.
It comes after Fox News fans declared it’s the ‘end of MAGA’ as Trump lost it during a press conference.
