Gronberg begins to fulfil expectations at Italian Open
BY Bruce Young | European PGA Tour | 2003 Italian Open | Wrap | 05 May 2003
There have been occasions when Mathias Gronberg has appeared as if he would join the absolute elite of European Golf. After all he was, before turning pro, one of the best amateurs in the world having led Sweden to victory at the Eisenhower and taken individual honours there also.
The transition to professional ranks took its time however, failing to qualify in his first two attempts at the European Tour School, although he did win the Swedish Open that year. When he finally secured his card for Europe for the 1994 season he was off and running. He finished 88th in that first full season and has not looked back since. It is true that some years have been considerably better than others with 1998 the standout to date, winning the European Open that year en route to a tenth place finish on the Volvo Order of Merit. He also won the Canon European Masters in 1995 and the South African Open in 2000.
In 2001, he finished 16th on the Volvo Order of Merit in a year that included a second place finish at the Victor Chandler British Masters at Woburn, losing in a playoff to Thomas Levet. Five other top tens that year saw him back to near his top form. In 2002 he only played in fifteen events as he relished the role of being a father for the first time. He worked hard in the off season with coach Butch Harmon but this has been the first real indication that the work is paying off.
Colin Montgomerie and 25-year-old Spaniard Jose Manuel Lara, who tied for second, matched his last round 65. For Lara this was his best performance in fifty or so starts in Europe in fact he had had just the one top ten previously that being in the Maidera Island Open in 2001 when 9th.
For Montgomerie this was his first start in Europe on this year’s European Tour and the recent change to cavity backed irons from the blades he had been using seemed to have worked a miracle. After all his form until now this year in the US had been a shocker missing five of seven cuts his best finish being 31st.
Ricardo Gonzalez also joined Montgomerie and Lara in second place but his came after a disappointing last round of 70 after leading into the last day.
Peter O’Malley was the best placed Australasian in 9th place and a cheque for $A36,000, Jarrod Moseley and Stephen Scahill 18th, Peter Fowler 23rd, Terry Price and Richard Green 30th, Steve Bowditch 36th and Brett Rumford 53rd.
The European Tour now heads to England for the Benson & Hedges Open at The Belfry.
