Soren Kjeldsen's consistency rewarded with victory
BY Bruce Young | European PGA Tour | 2003 The Diageo Championship at Gleneagles | Wrap | 23 Jun 2003
Soren Kjeldsen may not have won before this week on the European Tour, but there have been clear signs that a victory was not too far away. His level of consistency has improved dramatically this year, missing just one cut in fifteen starts prior to the Diageo Championship at Gleneagles.
His previous best finish on the European Tour had been second at the 1999 Qatar Masters, albeit seven shots behind Paul Lawrie, but this year there have been several top tens, including his seventh place at the Volvo PGA just three weeks ago. At his last start at the British Masters, he was finished in 11th place so everything had been building to this win.
It was one of the more difficult scoring weeks with just the twelve players breaking par at the end of a week dominated by strong winds, more especially early in the tournament. After an opening even par 72, Kjeldsen grabbed a lead that he would not relinquish during round two and by the time he had walked off the green after 54 holes his lead was five over Paul Broadhurst and Alistair Forsyth. He began slowly on Sunday with two early bogeys to go with a birdie at the second and when he reached the turn his lead was just two over Forsyth. His solid back nine kept the chasers at bay and with his first win comes a cheque for 281,000 euros ($A500,000) and a huge leap to 7th on the Volvo Order of Merit. It will also lift Kjeldsen significantly from his current 164th place on the world rankings.
Kjeldsen joins the likes of Thomas Bjorn, Steen Tinning, Soren Hansen, Anders Hansen and European Ladies Tour star, Iben Tinning, in trailblazing for Danish golf.
Alistair Forsyth, although he is from the other side of Scotland, relished the local conditions and was second. He had a chance when he got within two at the turn but Kjeldsen was just too solid in the run home.
For Broadhurst, this was a significant return to form as he has battled in recent seasons, having to gain access to the tour via the tour school last year, where he finished 21st. The former Ryder Cup star has had to battle injury also in recent years, seriously damaging his arm three years ago so this will be a major boost for him. This is his best finish since the West Of Ireland event four years ago.
Colin Montgomerie was alone in fourth.
Adam Scott was the best of the Australasians finishing eighth in an event where he was defending his title, having won by a massive ten strokes last year. His first round was marred by a four putt at the last but this was still a solid week. Richard Green was 10th, Brad Kennedy, in one of his few European Tour starts, did well for 15th, Peter Fowler was 22nd and Peter O’Malley 31st.
The European Tour now heads to Paris for the French Open.
