Player Profile: Jonas Blixt

On Sunday, Sweden's Jonas Blixt won his first title on the US PGA Tour at the Frys.com Open. This week's player profile introduces golf fans to this talented player from Northern Europe.

28 year-old Blixt was born in 1984 in the town of Nassjo, Sweden. After cultivating a love of the game during his high school years, Blixt honed his skills as a collegiate golfer during his time at Florida State University.

While at Florida State, Blixt was a Second-Team and First-Team All American, winner of the 2007 Inverness intercollegiate tournament, and a Nicklaus Honouree in 2008. The young Blixt also competed in the 2007 and 2008 Palmer Cup.

Blixt turned professional late in the 2008 season, playing more than 20 events in the 2009 Nationwide Tour season. In his first year on the Nationwide Tour, the young Swede won over $120 000 in prize money and also played several events on the Challenge Tour in Europe. After a successful year on the Nationwide Tour, Blixt earned an exemption to the US PGA Tour this season after finishing fifth on the Nationwide Tour's money list in the 2011 season.

Throughout this season, Blixt has proven to be a tough competitor as he weathers the challenges of competing at the highest level of American professional golf. His victory on Sunday against a field of experienced and highly competitive opponents is testimony to the young player's resolve to win and his ability to compete under pressure will stand him in good stead as his career continues to flourish.

Off the golf course Blixt is an enthusiastic hockey fan, having played the sport for the Swedish national team several years ago. The young champion also enjoys holidays in Italy, American football and baseball, and according to his official biography his first car was a Ford Mustang. Having settled in the United States, Blixt is sure to be a regular feature on the PGA Tour for years to come.