Japan’s Yuto Katsuragawa has delivered under pressure for a two-shot victory at the Genesis Championship in South Korea to secure his second European tour title, a cheque of around $US670,000 ($A960,000) and his card for the 2027 season.
A day after a bogey-free eight-under 63 in the third round to tie the course record at Woo Jeong Hills Country Club, Katsuragawa shot a more circumspect even-par 71 — featuring 16 pars — in the final round on Sunday as he maintained his advantage on the final holes, despite a tap-in bogey at the last.
The 28-year-old Katsuragawa had a four-round total of 13-under 271, two shots ahead of French players Frederic Lacroix (68) and Martin Couvra (69), for his first victory since the ISPS HANDA Championship in April 2024.
Katsuragawa entered the week at No. 106 on the Race to Dubai rankings and in danger of losing his card for being outside the top 100.
The win shot him up to No. 28, guaranteeing his spot in the final two events of the season — in Abu Dhabi and Dubai.
“After the first win, I had such a hard time but having the second win, this is definitely the greatest moment of my life,” he said.
“Yes, I was nervous, not just for the victory but also about staying on the DP World Tour so it was double nervous for me, but I think I got through.”
The season-long Race to Dubai title will be determined over those two weeks and South African golfer Casey Jarvis missed a chance to get close to the top three in the standings — Eugenio Chacarra, Patrick Reed and Rory McIlroy — by falling back to a tie for fourth place.
His 72 ensured he finished alongside British Open champion Ryan Fox (70) at 10 under.
Jarvis led after the first round, shared the lead after the second, and was in second place going into Sunday’s championship round as he sought a third win of the 2026 season, after the Kenya Open and South African Open in February,
Reed and McIlroy did not compete this week. Chacarra, who is No. 1 in the standings after winning in India last week, finished seven shots back — at six under — and tied for 22nd.
