Yurav Premlall, an unheralded South African ranked No. 598, capped one of the most extraordinary performances in European tour history Sunday by winning the Catalunya Championship by 14 shots — one off the all-time biggest margin of victory set by Tiger Woods at the 2000 U.S. Open.
The 22-year-old Premlall made 10 birdies to shoot a second straight round of 9-under 63 this weekend and finish on 28-under par for the tournament.
Premlall’s first win on the tour came in a season when he’d missed the cut in four of his eight appearances and not had a top-30 finish.
“I can’t give myself enough credit today and I’m not really a person to say that — it was probably the most complete performance I’ve ever put through,” he said.
By tapping in at the par-5 last hole, Premlall added a 33rd birdie over his four rounds of 70-64-63-63.
Fellow South African Shaun Norris shot 68 and was second on 14 under.
Woods’ remarkable U.S. Open win at Pebble Beach in 2000 counts as a record for both the PGA and European Tours.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.