Kaymer threatened to take the win away from Hovland when he shot up the leaderboard, carding the day’s best score of 64 — which included 10 birdies offset by two bogeys — to tie for the lead and set the clubhouse target at 17-under overall.

But Hovland regained control and took a two-shot lead with birdies on the 13th and 16th. Although the 23-year-old bogeyed the 17th, he bounced back with a birdie on the 18th to win despite signing for 70 — his lowest score of the four rounds.

“I’m kind of glad it’s over. It was a long day, it was very stressful, but it feels great and it will be nice to relax for a couple of weeks now,” Hovland said after finishing on 19-under overall.

“I saw (Kaymer) was creeping up from behind … making the birdie on 13 helped a lot and the par save on 14, that was big for momentum … I had a three-putt on 17 but great birdies on 16 and 18 — it was good enough today.

“It’s The Open, Olympics, Ryder Cup, there’s so much golf to look forward to and I’m just going to have a blast.”

Spain’s Jorge Campillo finished third, four strokes behind Hovland while Frenchman Victor Dubuisson was fourth, a shot further behind.