Unique villa swimming pool 16th hole trips up SA's Robin Williams at Turkish Airlines Open

ANTALYA: After a week where Robin Williams showed that he could go toe-to-toe with some of the biggest names in the game, the young South African’s challenge ultimately faltered on the final round here at the DP World Tour’s Turkish Airlines Open.

The 23-year-old shot an even par to finish with an overall 273 (65, 70, 67, 71) 11-under-par. It saw him slip from second place heading into Sunday’s final round to an eventual tied 7th position, which earns Williams $63 690 (approximately R1,157,526.26 million).

French rookie Martin Couvra, who is the holder of a historic South African Amateur Championships treble, claimed the Turkish Airlines Open title with an overall 267 17-under-par.

“It’s still a great week. If someone told me I would play like this at the beginning of the week, I would definitely have taken it. Williams told Independent Media.

 “It's definitely heading in the right direction.

“I know I didn't play the way I wanted to and it didn't work out the way I wanted it to. But there's still a lot of positives to take from this week.

“I've really struggled this season at the start of the season. Missed a lot of cuts. So, this is a step in the right direction. Hopefully, I can use this momentum going into Europe.”

Williams was particularly grateful for the opportunity to share the magnificent Regnum Carya course with Chinese superstar Li Haotong for two days over the weekend. Haotong tied in second place with 

“To play with Li Haotong over the weekend was a great experience in seeing how it is to get it done and to compete up there,” he said.” Yeah, so it was nice, it's definitely been an experience.” 

Williams has been excellent down the back nine throughout the week and was just four shots off the leader Couvra when he was standing on the unique 16th hole tee box, which is atop a villa and overlooks a swimming pool. 

But instead of gathering momentum, Williams faltered by double bogeying the 16th to see his challenge ultimately slip away. 

“I messed up 16 today. But it's alright, I'm still happy with it,” he said. “It’s a special hole, really cool.

“We tee up over a swimming pool, that's correct. Certainly, the first time I’ve done that.” 

Williams certainly enjoyed his maiden trip to Antalya, Turkiye, especially as he also shared the trip with his father Morne on the bag, and is looking forward to returning next year.

“It's been amazing. It's my first time here. The food is unbelievable,” he said.

“Golf course is just so good. They say the weather is not too bad in the wintertime. And then in the summer, it gets hot.

“But this is a really, really great place to even have a base. The golf course here and the facilities are unreal.”

Fellow South African Jayden Schaper kept his best round for Sunday, shooting a 65 six-under-par, to finish with a 276 that pushed him up to 29th place on the leaderboard.

Dylan Naidoo also found some form with a 68 three-under-par, while Wilco Nienaber’s putter lost its radar as he finished with a +1 and Dylan Fritelli with a +2.