DID YOU KNOW – NORDEA MASTERS
• Fred Couples created European Tour history in this event in 1991 at Drottningholm, for the most birdies in a single round, when he recorded 12 in his second round of 61 (-11). Couples, the 1992 winner of The Masters Tournament, finished in a tie for sixth place.
• On his way to winning the 2011 Nordea Masters, Alex Noren led by 11 shots after 54 holes, with his total of 196 (-20). This performance ranks equal second in the European Tour’s list of largest 54 holes leads.
• The first victory of Jesper Parnevik in 1995 saw him become only the second player to win a European Tour event without dropping a shot. He followed David J Russell who first established the feat at the 1992 Open de Lyon Trophée V33.
• Should Mikko Ilonen triumph again he would become the first player to make a successful defence of the Nordea Masters. He would also have the distinction of becoming the event’s third, three time winner, after his triumphs in 2007 and 2013. Colin Montgomerie and Lee Westwood as the other three-time champions.
• The 2013 Race to Dubai winner, Henrik Stenson will trying to win the Nordea Masters for the first time. He has twiced finished second, in 2004 and 2005. The latter, losing out in a play-off to Mark Hensby.
• Jonas Blixt is another Swede eyeing the crown. He achieved his best European Tour finish of second in the 2013 Nordea Masters. A further runner-up position came at this year’s Masers Tournament, where he finished joint second.
• Should a home player triumph in the event, it would be their seventh in the history of the tournament. The Nordea Masters already holds the record for Swedish victories in the same European Tour event with six. They are: Jesper Parnevik (1995 and 1998), Joakim Haeggman (1997), Peter Hanson (2008), Richard S Johnson (2010) and Alex Noren (2011).
• PGA Sweden National GC is staging the tournament for the first time. The Malmo venue becomes the seventh different course to host the Nordea Masters since the tournament began in 1991.
