Thomas Pieters claimed a fifth European Tour win in Algarve after carding a fourth-round score of 68 to top the final leaderboard at the 2021 Portugal Masters.

Matthieu Pavon came into the final round level with Pieters but, despite a strong start, could only muster a 70 as the Belgian pipped him to the title at the Dom Pedro Victoria Golf Course.

Pavon finished 19-under to end the tournament level with Danish duo Nicolai Hojgaard and Lucas Bjerregaard, who managed an impressive 64 and 66 respectively in the final round, but could not close the gap to Pieters.

Hojgaard came close to claiming the title himself but, despite recording the lowest score of the round, fell just short with a bogey on the last hole.

Pieters, 29, will now play at the DP World Tour Championship in Dubai for the seventh season in a row following his success in Portugal and is enjoying the rewards of his hard work.

"It feels amazing," Pieters said. "It felt like a long time between victories but [my caddie] Adam and I worked so hard and it felt like a deserved one.

"Two years is a long time. I’ve had a child in the meantime, who talks and runs around, it does feel like a long time.

"I was going into this week and next week with my back to the wall. I had nothing to lose but everything to gain. I’ve never missed the end of the Race to Dubai and really didn’t want to miss it. I didn’t care if I finished first, second or third. I just wanted to get there, but winning is amazing."

Win Number Five. #PortugalMasters pic.twitter.com/CptK1604zf
— The European Tour (@EuropeanTour) November 7, 2021