Richard Sterne Stuns Soudal Open Field

Richard Sterne didn’t just win the 2026 Soudal Open. He ripped it away with one fearless swing.

The 44-year-old South African ended a 13-year DP World Tour winless drought Sunday, chasing down Zander Lombard with a jaw-dropping eagle on the 17th hole and finishing at 18-under par.

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For a player who has survived wrist surgeries, hip surgery and a titanium disc in his back, this wasn’t just a trophy. It was a comeback with teeth.

Sterne’s tournament-changing moment came from 276 yards out. Needing a draw with a 5-wood, he fired one of the best shots of his career straight at the flag.

It flirted with albatross, settled just a few feet away and left him with an eagle putt that flipped the entire Soudal Open leaderboard.

Lombard had controlled much of the final day after starting with a three-shot lead.

He birdied the first and appeared steady enough to protect the advantage, but the back nine turned brutal. A bogey at No. 13 narrowed the gap, then a double bogey at No. 14 opened the door.

Sterne kicked it down.

He had already built momentum with early birdies, including a chip-in at No. 2, and another birdie at the fifth. Even after a bogey at No. 8, he stayed close enough to make Sunday uncomfortable.

Then came No. 17, the kind of shot that changes careers, even late ones.

The victory was Sterne’s first DP World Tour title since the 2013 Joburg Open. He admitted afterward he didn’t even realize he had the lead until he reached the 18th green, making the finish even wilder.

Behind him, Marcus Kinhult and Marcus Armitage finished at 16-under after strong closing rounds. Jorge Campillo, Jacob Skov Olesen, Kota Kaneko and Victor Perez also shared second.

Lombard, MJ Daffue, Ben Schmidt, Nathan Kimsey and Gregorio De Leo ended at 15-under.

For Lombard, it was another painful near-miss, but his form still points toward a breakthrough.

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For Sterne, though, this was bigger than form. His children finally got to see him win. South Africa grabbed its sixth DP World Tour victory of the season.

And Sterne proved he’s not done swinging back.

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