On the European Tour
Garcia named Hilton European Tour Golfer of the Month for April
ergio Garcia has been named as the
Hilton European Tour Golfer of the
Month for his Masters Tournament
heroics, having overcome Justin
Rose in a play-off at Augusta National to
claim his maiden Major title. The Spanish
sensation was a hugely popular winner as he
earned the coveted green jacket, becoming
just the third player from his home country
to do so – following Seve Ballesteros (1980
and 1984) and José María Olazábal (1994
and 1999).
Fittingly, Garcia’s triumph came on the
day that his idol Ballesteros would have
turned 60, adding another dimension of
sentiment to an already emotion-tinged day
as the 37 year old banished the demons of
previous missed opportunities at golf’s
big four. Rose looked set for victory as the
Englishman took a two-shot lead at the 12th,
but Garcia eked out a clutch par at the 13th
to shift the momentum in his favour and a
birdie at the 14th was followed by a crucial
eagle at the 15th to set up a grandstand play-
off fi nish. After Rose leaked his drive on the
fi rst play-off hole into the pine straw, Garcia
held his nerve and while he had two putts to
win it, he duly rolled in a 12 foot birdie putt
for a famous victory.
The World Number Five also beat Rose
to the Hilton European Golfer of the Month
award, with the former U S Open winner
voted into second place for his creditable
performance, while Edoardo Molinari was
voted in third place after his fi rst victory in
seven years at the Trophée Hassan II. Garcia
will receive 50,000 Hilton Honors points
after winning the Hilton European Tour
Golfer of the Month award for February
and with it, an upgrade to Hilton Honors
Diamond Elite status.
“I am honoured to be named as the
Hilton European Tour Golfer of the Month,”
said Garcia. “It has been such a memorable
time of my life since the Masters victory and
hopefully I can repeat it many times over.
“Winning my fi rst Major at Augusta was a
dream come true and the fact that it came on
the day that Seve would have turned 60 made
it even more special. He has always been my
biggest inspiration in this game and I owe a
lot to him.” David Facey, golf writer for the
Sun, said: “Sergio Garcia and Justin Rose are
deserved occupants of the top two spots for
the award.
They both combined to produce a truly
classic climax to the Masters, trading blow
for blow in an epic fi nal round but of course,
nobody deserves to receive this award more
than Garcia. “The choice for third place was
not easy, with some outstanding winners to
choose from. But Edoardo Molinari’s two
eagles in the last seven holes to force a play-
off with Paul Dunne - and then secure his
fi rst European Tour victory for seven years
- set him apart.”
Hilton, the Offi cial Hotel Supplier to
the European Tour, is the Offi cial Sponsor
of the Hilton European Tour Golfer of the
Month award, which recognises and rewards
the best performances of European Tour
members each month.
Frittelli clinches maiden win in Austria
South African Dylan Frittelli claimed his
maiden European Tour title after producing a
fi nal-round 67 at the Lyoness Open powered
by ORGANIC+.
The Challenge Tour graduate carded six
birdies and a single bogey on Sunday to get
to 12 under par and fi nish one shot clear of
nearest challengers Mikko Korhonen, David
Horsey and Jbe Kruger.
Austria has proved a happy hunting ground
for Frittelli, who won his fi rst Challenge
Tour event here four years ago at the Kärnten
Golf Open presented by Mazda, and after
suffering play-off heartbreak in the Volvo
China Open in April, the 27 year old now has
a European Tour title to his name.
Frittelli began the day on seven under, two
I was just trying to get it on
the green, make a par and avoid a
play-off, my zero and two record
in play-offs is not very good, so I
didn’t want to have extra guys in the
play-off trying to beat them on the
18th, it would have been tough but
very happy with the way I hit that
seven-iron in.
- Dylan Frittelli
Image Courtesy: GettyImages
shots behind overnight leader Felipe Aguilar
- who had led after each of the opening three
rounds - but made gains early on in the day
as he made his way up the leaderboard.
With Kruger dropping a shot at the last, and
Finland’s Korhonen and England’s Horsey
already in the clubhouse at 11 under for the
day, Frittelli stood at the 18th tee with a one
shot lead, and knocked in his close-range par
putt to secure the trophy.
Horsey, who matched the course record with
a stunning 64 on Friday, posted the lowest
round of the day once again on Sunday-
carding seven birdies and no bogeys in a
fl awless 65. The 32 year old opened his
fourth round with four straight birdies before
making another gain at the seventh to cover
the front nine in 31 shots, and followed that
with two more birdies on the back nine to
stay in contention.
Richard McEvoy fi nished another shot back
on ten under, while Aguilar posted a closing
75 to fi nish the week six shots behind Frittelli
on six under.
GolfPlus
JULY
2017
25