When a golf tournament is this nail-biting, it’s hard to know which angle to take

The gripping Turkish Airlines Open was a sports journalist’s dream – but with so much to cover, how do you capture the heart of the story?

(Getty)

When six players tie for the lead after 72 gripping holes of golf at the Turkish Airlines Open, part of the journalist in you is thrilled to watch – but then you realise you need a unique angle on events, and the light is fading fast.

This week, Matthias Schwab coughed up a three-shot lead heading into the final round, which saw Tyrrell Hatton, Kurt Kitayama, Victor Perez, Benjamin Hebert and Erik Van Rooyen – with a dramatic eagle at the last – form a fascinating sextuplet playoff for the first time in 17 years on the European Tour, with the small matter of $2m (£1.56m) at stake.

Dropping like flies, the group was soon whittled down to three, each with their own captivating story. One concerned a Ryder Cup hero and three-time winner (Hatton); another, a two-time winner and candidate for rookie of the year (Kitayama); and another, a pro awaiting a maiden victory but now fragile after 74 energy-sapping holes.