World Golf News - 28 June 2011

On the US PGA Tour, another first-time winner dominated the final round of the Travelers Championship on Sunday. After a total of 188 starts on the tour, Fredrik Jacobson of Sweden proved himself a champion to golf fans as he lifted the trophy at his first-ever championship victory in the United States. The 36 year-old champion told journalists that his daughter Emmie had asked him recently, “Daddy, why don’t you have any trophies at home?” Jacobsen promised his daughter a trophy, and on Sunday both their wishes were fulfilled. Jacobson has now shaken off a jinx that plagues many strong players on the PGA tour, boding well for his performance in the future.

In Europe, the BMW International Open was won by the Spaniard Pablo Larrazabal. In a riveting showdown against compatriot Sergio Garcia, Larrazabal won the sudden-death playoff to lift the trophy. This is the second time the young Spaniard has won on the European Tour, following his victory at the French Open in 2008. The two Spanish players appeared more like competitive team mates than arch rivals as they approached the extra holes, congratulating each other on their exemption at next month’s British Open.

On the LPGA tour, golfing phenomenon Yani Tseng has made golfing history. The 22 year-old has become the youngest player to win four majors on the tour, after winning the LPGA Championship on Sunday. In a final round that saw the young champion from Taiwan devastate the competition with a ten stroke win, the camaraderie on the LPGA Tour was highlighted by fellow champion Annika Sorenstam urging Tseng to bring home the trophy. The two champions have been neighbours and friends since Tseng purchased Sorenstam’s former home in Florida two years ago. Asked about her plans for the future, Tseng hinted that she had set her sights on a grand slam.

Golfweather Editorial