Adrian Meronk makes Ryder Cup statement with another DP World Tour win
Adrian Meronk hits back after Ryder Cup heartache to land a fourth DP World Tour title since July 2022.
Adrian Meronk could have been forgiven for taking time out the game after being shunned a pick in the 2023 European Ryder Cup team last month, but the giant Pole has dusted himself down and got back to business to land a fourth DP World Tour title at the Andalucia Masters in Spain.
Meronk, 30, carded a second consecutive round of 6-under 66 to finish one stroke clear of Germany's Matti Schmid on 16-under par.
The Pole started the final round four strokes off the pace and it was soon six after two bogeys on the first three holes.
But Meronk bounced back incredibly thereafter with eagles at the par-5 6th before an eagle hole-out on the par-4 9th.
ONE-BOUNCE EAGLE @AdrianMeronk hoops one in from 121 yards #EDAM2023 pic.twitter.com/ht2gWsMTTO
— DP World Tour (@DPWorldTour) October 22, 2023
He then birdied 10, 12 and 14 to surge into contention before landing the hammer blow when converting a 10-footer for birdie on the par-3 17th.
That gave him the outright lead for the first time all week.
Meronk split the 18th fairway and then found the middle of the green with his approach shot before two-putting for par.
Schmid in the group behind needed to make a birdie on the 18th to force a playoff but the German could only make par.
England's Richard Mansell had every chance to match Meronk down the closing stretch but a bogey on the 17th saw him come up two strokes shy in solo third.
Meronk was shunned a pick in Luke Donald's European Ryder Cup team last month when many had considered he was a lock for one of the six picks.
It hurt Meronk, especially having won the Italian Open earlier in the season at Marco Simone, venue of the 2023 Ryder Cup.
Meronk admitted to not even being able to watch the Ryder Cup as a result of his rejection.
Justin Rose, Tommy Fleetwood, Shane Lowry, Sepp Straka, Ludvig Aberg and Nicolai Hojgaard were handed Donald's six picks, with many considering the latter was the player that got in over Meronk.
As it turned out, Europe won the Ryder Cup 16.5-11.5 at Marco Simone.
Related: Meronk has two words for Luke Donald after being snubbed a pick in Ryder Cup team
But fast forward some six weeks and Meronk channeled that disappointment to land a fourth DP World Tour title since July 2022.
It also marks his third win of the season and he vaults to third in the DP World Tour's Race to Dubai standings behind Rory McIlroy and Jon Rahm.
Meronk, who won his maiden title at the 2022 Irish Open, also won the Australian Open and Italian Open earlier this season.
When pressed by Sky's Josh Antmann if he thinks the win has proven some Ryder Cup doubters wrong, Meronk replied:
Andalucia Masters Final Leaderboard
-16 A Meronk (Pol)
-15 M Schmid (Ger)
-14 R Mansell (Eng)
-13 L de Jager (SA), C Hanna (US)
Andy first joined the brand on a month's work experience back in April 2011, and he now assumes the Editor role. When Andy joined GolfMagic it was a small site with potential.
