English teenager Josh Hill became the youngest male player to win an Official World Golf Ranking event – but could not claim his prize money.
Hill won the Al Ain Open on the Mena Tour in the United Arab Emirates at the age of 15 years, six months and 27 days old, beating Ryo Ishikawa’s record previous mark, set in 2007, when he was 15 years and eight months.
Hill carded a final-round 62 to reach 17 under par for the tournament’s three rounds to finish two shots ahead of fellow Englishman Harry Ellis and land the title. However, as he is still an amateur, his £10,477 prize was given to professional Ellis instead.
The Mena Tour is held in the Middle East and North Africa and Official World Golf Ranking points started being awarded to tournament winners from 2016.
Hill went into the event at 2,072 in the world rankings, currently topped by four-time major winner Brooks Koepka. His ranking effectively saw him tied with players who had not picked up any points in the rolling two-year period in which points are accumulated.
Hill, who is projected to move up to around number 1,200 in the world following the win, said: “If you had told me during the summer that I will be winning a Mena Tour title against professionals, and become the youngest ever winner of an Official World Golf Ranking event, I would have laughed at the notion.
“I guess hard work pays. I am actually a little disappointed with my finish, because I missed so many opportunities coming in. I honestly could have broken 60. I knew I needed a good start, and once I got it, I just kept hitting one good shot after the other.”
Hill was born and raised in Dubai, but is the youngest member of the England Under-18 squad. He added: “I got quite a few messages from my England team-mates. I had around 120 WhatsApp notifications and 250 more on Instagram. They were probably just a bit jealous that I was playing in the sunshine while they were in the rain at Woodhall Spa!
But seriously, they were having fun as a team in England and they are a good group of boys. The strength of the players coming through the England levels right now is amazing. Although I live in Dubai, I’m always immensely proud to represent England when I can and I’m always happy to wear that shirt with the England badge.
Looking to the immediate future, Hill said: “I still have two events on the MENA Tour this year, and I want to make sure I play well in them. Then I can practise and chill over the winter ahead of next season. Ultimately, I want to get a Tour card and make my way in the game. Like any young golfer the dream is to win a Major, but that’s a long way away and I just have to keep working hard at my game. Tiger Woods is my hero – I think everyone loves Tiger, and watching him win the Masters again was inspiring.”