Golf

Life after LIV: Austrian shoots to China Open crown

By AAP Newswire

Apr 27, 2026

Austrian Bernd Wiesberger has played a bogey-free Sunday to close with a four-under-par 67 and overcome Spain's Adrian Otaegui to win the China Open, his first victory since returning two years ago from LIV Golf.

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Wiesberger, who qualified for the 2021 Ryder Cup, avoided the mistakes that cost Otaegui in the final round.

The Spaniard had a three-shot lead on the back nine only to drop shots on both par threes at Shanghai Enhance Anting Golf Club.

Otaegui came to the par-five 18th needing a birdie to force a play-off but hit his tee shot into a bush to the right. He wound up with a double-bogey for a 71 to finish three shots behind.

Wiesberger finished on 19-under 265 for his ninth career European title, and first since winning in Denmark in 2021 that helped him make the Ryder Cup team at Whistling Straits. He lost all three of his matches there in a rare American victory.

Wiesberger was among the first players to join Saudi-backed LIV Golf in 2022 and played two seasons before his contract ended and he returned to the European tour.

Anthony Quayle finished an impressive tournament as the leading Australian, tied for eighth on 10 under after a final-round 67, while Kuangyu 'Tony' Chen ended up tied for 25th on six under after a 72.