Richard S. Johnson wins Scandinavian Masters
Swedish golfer Richard Johnson sank a tricky birdie putt on the final hole to seal a dramatic victory at the European Tour's Scandinavian Masters northwest of Stockholm on Sunday.
Johnson secured a one-shot victory over Argentina's Rafa Echenique with a 30-foot birdie putt as he closed with a 71 for an 11-under-par total of 277. It was his second European Tour title, eight years after his first, and it was achieved without his regular caddie, Lance Ten Broeck, who missed the event in favour of playing in the Senior Open in Carnoustie.
Italy's Edoardo Molinari, winner of the Scottish Open, birdied the last for a 69 to be third on nine under, while British Open winner Louis Oosthuizen finished joint fourth.
"It's one of the sweetest things I've ever done. Just to come up the 17th and 18th is magical," said Johnson, only the second home winner of the Scandinavian Masters. "This is a huge tournament to win for a Swede and I'm speechless right now. It's epic."
South Africa's Oosthuizen, who won the British Open last weekend, shot a final-round 73,
"I didn't play well. I didn't drive well and it put everything under pressure," he said.
"I had to push it at the end, but Richard played brilliantly. I'm a bit disappointed, but after last week, I was hoping to make the cut and I finished fourth, so I'm happy."
Oosthuizen is now heading home to South Africa for a delayed party to celebrate his British Open triumph. Joint overnight leader KJ Choi had a fourth round to forget, as he hooked his opening drive out of bounds and then put two balls into the water for a nine at the 15th to sign for a 78.
Molinari, meanwhile was rueing what might have been.
"I missed so many putts. I think I could have won easily to be honest, but that's golf sometimes," he said. "I'm still outside the team [for the Ryder Cup], so I need to play well in the last two or three events."
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Johnson secured a one-shot victory over Argentina's Rafa Echenique with a 30-foot birdie putt as he closed with a 71 for an 11-under-par total of 277. It was his second European Tour title, eight years after his first, and it was achieved without his regular caddie, Lance Ten Broeck, who missed the event in favour of playing in the Senior Open in Carnoustie.
Italy's Edoardo Molinari, winner of the Scottish Open, birdied the last for a 69 to be third on nine under, while British Open winner Louis Oosthuizen finished joint fourth.
"It's one of the sweetest things I've ever done. Just to come up the 17th and 18th is magical," said Johnson, only the second home winner of the Scandinavian Masters. "This is a huge tournament to win for a Swede and I'm speechless right now. It's epic."
South Africa's Oosthuizen, who won the British Open last weekend, shot a final-round 73,
"I didn't play well. I didn't drive well and it put everything under pressure," he said.
"I had to push it at the end, but Richard played brilliantly. I'm a bit disappointed, but after last week, I was hoping to make the cut and I finished fourth, so I'm happy."
Oosthuizen is now heading home to South Africa for a delayed party to celebrate his British Open triumph. Joint overnight leader KJ Choi had a fourth round to forget, as he hooked his opening drive out of bounds and then put two balls into the water for a nine at the 15th to sign for a 78.
Molinari, meanwhile was rueing what might have been.
"I missed so many putts. I think I could have won easily to be honest, but that's golf sometimes," he said. "I'm still outside the team [for the Ryder Cup], so I need to play well in the last two or three events."
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