GOLF

Denmark’s Soren Kjeldsen wins Irish Open in 3-way playoff

May 31, 2015, 12:48 PM

Denmark’s Soren Kjeldsen kisses the Irish Open Golf trophy after he won on the first play off...

Denmark's Soren Kjeldsen kisses the Irish Open Golf trophy after he won on the first play off hole at Royal County Down, Newcastle, Northern Ireland, Sunday, May 31, 2015. (AP Photo/Peter Morrison)

(AP Photo/Peter Morrison)

NEWCASTLE, Northern Ireland (AP) — Soren Kjeldsen of Denmark won the Irish Open in a three-way playoff Sunday after his short winning putt on the first extra hole just barely managed to avoid lipping out.

Kjeldsen entered the final round with a two-stroke lead, but shot a 5-over 76 to finish tied with Eddie Pepperell of England (69) and Bernd Wiesberger of Austria (73). All scored a 2-under total of 282 on the wind-swept, rain-battered Royal County Down, where just five of the 156 competitors finished the tournament under par.

The 40-year-old Kjeldsen took command of the playoff by hitting a second shot that reached the sloping green of the par-5, 525-yard 18th hole — which he had bogeyed Thursday and Saturday and nearly again Sunday.

Wiesberger’s second shot came up short, while Pepperell twice found the rough to bogey the hole. Wiesberger managed par and hoped Kjeldsen would slip up.

But Kjeldsen struck a 35-foot eagle putt that stopped just 3 feet right of the pin. His putt for a winning birdie circled the rim before falling in.

Kjeldsen couldn’t help but smile. Ranked just 303rd in the world entering the Irish Open, he qualified for the British Open with the win. He last played in Europe’s biggest tournament in 2009.

“It’s ridiculous, like I’m dreaming but I don’t want anyone to wake me up,” he said while holding the crystal trophy alongside Rory McIlroy, the host for the Irish Open who failed to make Friday’s cut. McIlroy was far from the only big name who struggled, as many struggled to sink even straightforward putts amid gusting winds and violent rain showers sweeping down onto the seaside course from the nearby Mourne Mountains.

Kjeldsen displayed the same final-stretch nerves that had cost him shots Saturday when he bogeyed the two final holes.

On Sunday he lost a one-shot lead at the par-4 17th despite putting to within 5 feet of the hole on a 35-foot birdie attempt amid 40 mph (65 kph) winds. The crowd groaned when his short putt for par rolled wide.

And on the 18th, he nearly threw away his chance at the playoff, over-hitting his third shot from manicured rough straight across the green and behind another green-side obstacle. But he salvaged that position for par.

Kjeldsen admitted that he felt many times like he might have blown his chance of victory with inadequate play, but found reassurance every time he looked at the leaderboard to discover most of his rivals were struggling, too.

“It was just a brutal day for everyone,” he said. “I think the last breath I took was at about 14. I’ve never been as nervous as this.”

The Irish Open is Kjeldsen’s fourth tour victory. He won the 2009 Andalucia Open, the 2008 Volvo Masters at Valderrama, Spain, and the 2003 Johnnie Walker Championship at Gleneagles, Scotland.

Copyright © The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

Golf

Sparky's Fairway at Mountain America Stadium...

Tyler Drake

Sparky’s Fairway golf takes over Arizona State’s Mountain America Stadium

ASU's Mountain America Stadium is trading in its hash marks for yardage markers as Sparky's Fairway takes center stage beginning Thursday.

21 days ago

Fans at the 2024 WM Phoenix Open...

Associated Press

Thunderbirds looking at ways to tame Phoenix Open after wild, muddy mess

The Thunderbirds, who operate the Phoenix Open, plan to spend the next 11 months looking for ways to implement changes to the tournament.

1 month ago

Adam Svensson of Canada putts on the 18th green during the continuation of the second round of the ...

Arizona Sports

WM Phoenix Open offering refund submissions for Saturday closure

The WM Phoenix Open is offering refund submissions to fans who were denied entrance on Saturday when the event's gates were temporarily closed.

1 month ago

WM Phoenix Open crowds on Friday...

Arizona Sports

The Thunderbirds exec: WM Phoenix Open to consider ‘complete operational changes’

What happened at the 2024 WM Phoenix Open, with gates being closed and alcohol sales shutting down, will lead to changes to the event.

1 month ago

Nick Taylor, of Canada, hits out of a fairway bunker on the second hole during the final round of t...

Associated Press

Nick Taylor wins WM Phoenix Open with birdie on 2nd hole of playoff

Nick Taylor made an 11-foot birdie putt to beat Charley Hoffman on the second hole of a playoff at the WM Phoenix Open.

2 months ago

(Tyler Drake/Arizona Sports)...

Dan Bickley

Bickley: WM Phoenix Open caps the weirdest, wettest and wildest tournament ever

Fans of the 2024 WM Phoenix Open experienced one of the weirdest, wettest and wildest versions of the tournament to date.

2 months ago

Denmark’s Soren Kjeldsen wins Irish Open in 3-way playoff