Fredrik Jacobson’’s wonderful play-off victory in the Volvo Masters Andalucia has been recognised by his selection as the Asprey Golfer of the Month for October.
The award, Jacobson’’s second of the 2003 season having taken the plaudits in April as well, crowned a wonderful year for the 29 year old Swede who reaffirmed his credentials as one of European golf’’s most exciting and individual talents.
Not only did Jacobson become the first Swedish golfer to win three official events in the same season in European Tour history, following his earlier successes in the Omega Hong Kong Open and the Algarve Open de Portugal, he also finished fourth on the Volvo Order of Merit, equalling the highest placed finish by a Swedish player, namely Anders Forsbrand’’s fourth place in 1992.
It was the victory at Club de Golf Valderrama which enabled the record books to be rewritten, Jacobson’’s dogged refusal to lie down when the odds seemed stacked against him before eventually triumphing at the fourth extra hole against the gallant Carlos Rodiles of Spain, that caught the eye of the judging panel.
“I have played in the Volvo Masters Andalucia since 2000 and it is a tournament I have always enjoyed so to win it is very special indeed,” said Jacobson. “I had a good start to the year with two wins and then did well in the Majors too, but to finish off the year in style with a win like that is very pleasing.”
The representatives from the Association of Golf Writers, television and radio selected Jacobson from an impressive list of candidates for October, led by Ernie Els, who won the Harry Vardon Trophy after topping the Volvo Order of Merit for the first time.
October highlight for the South African came at Wentworth Club when he beat Denmark’’s Thomas Björn 4 and 3 in the final of the HSBC World Match Play to move alongside Seve Ballesteros and Gary Player as a five time winner of the event.
In an astonishing month where no fewer than nine European Tour Members won titles around the world, the judging panel also considered the victories of America’’s John Daly, who won the Kolon Korean Open; Argentina’’s Ricardo Gonzalez, who claimed the Telefonica Open de Madrid; South Africa’’s Retief Goosen, who captured the Chrysler Championship on the US PGA Tour; Spain’’s Miguel Angel Jiménez, who won the Turespaña Mallorca Classic and was tied ninth in the Dutch Open; Maarten Lafeber of The Netherlands, who delighted the home crowds by winning the Dutch Open for his maiden European Tour title; Scotland’’s Colin Montgomerie, who travelled to Asia and returned as the Macau Open champion; and Vijay Singh, who triumphed in the Funai Classic at the Walt Disney World Resort on the US PGA Tour, as well as reaching the semi-finals of the HSBC World Match Play Championship.
In announcing the choice of Jacobson, Edward Asprey, Director of Asprey London, the ultimate authentic British luxury lifestyle house, said: “The panel agreed that Fredrik is the real thing, a world class player with genuine personality.
“He is a credit to golf and he crowned an outstanding year, which included two top ten finishes in Major Championships, by winning the season-ending Volvo Masters Andalucia.”
Previous winners of the Asprey Golfer of the Month Awards for 2003 are: Els (January and February), Robert-Jan Derksen (March), Jacobson (April), Paul Casey (May), Philip Golding (June), Phillip Price (July), Darren Clarke (August), and Lee Westwood (September).
The award is presented to a European Tour Member each month from January to November for his performances on The European Tour International Schedule and in worldwide competition. The Asprey Golfer of the Year will be judged next month.
