Sweden’’s Fredrik Jacobson has won The Royal Bank of Scotland Shot of the Year Award for the outstanding stroke he played at the final hole of the Volvo Masters Andalucia at Club de Golf Valderrama, which had a dramatic impact on the outcome of the season-ending tournament on The 2003 European Tour International Schedule.
Jacobson, who wins a superb Waterford Crystal Trophy and a £2000 cheque to be donated to a charity of his choice, struck a 152 yard nine iron to within 18 inches of the hole to force a play-off with Spain’’s Carlos Rodiles, which he subsequently won at the fourth extra hole.
That outstanding stroke, which helped earn Jacobson his third title of the year, was voted by a panel comprising The European Tour and the golfing media as the best played by a European Tour Member during the 2003 season.
Jacobson’’s shot was one of 11 monthly award winners considered by the panel during the period from the BMW Asian Open, which launched The 2003 European Tour International Schedule, to the Volvo Masters Andalucia. The Swede, in fact, was the only player with two shots in contention for the award, having won The Royal Bank of Scotland Shot of the Month in both April and October.
Runner-up was Lee Westwood’’s remarkable 224 yard four iron for an albatross two at Kingsbarns, which contributed hugely to the Englishman’’s subsequent victory in the dunhill links championship and won the September award.
Third was the 180 yard wedge played by Trevor Immelman at the final hole of the South African Airways Open at Erin Vale GC, Cape Town, which helped the South African into a play-off where he beat defending champion and fellow countryman, Tim Clark. That quality shot earned Immelman the January award.
Jacobson admitted: “I feel honoured to have won The Royal Bank of Scotland Shot of the Year, and to be able to donate the £2000 to a very worthy cause in the Swedish Cancer Foundation. You never think about awards such as this at the start of the year, and this is a pleasant spin-off from winning three titles on The European Tour.
“Timing is everything. When I teed off at the last hole at Valderrama I knew I had to do two things – hit a perfect tee shot and an even better second. I felt a birdie was my only chance to tie Carlos and wanted to get the ball as close to the hole as possible to put pressure on him. I didn’’t expect it to land less than two feet away. It was a great feeling.
“I never thought the tournament was over, even though Carlos was two ahead playing the last. I left the driver in my bag and made sure of hitting the fairway with my three wood. Everything went perfectly after that and I was thrilled to go on and win the title. Of my three titles in 2003, winning the Volvo Masters Andalucia is the highlight.”
The Royal Bank of Scotland Shot of the Month Award, in association with The European Tour, Sky Sports and Golf Weekly, is presented to the Tour Member for the shot judged to be the most outstanding played during each calendar month on The European Tour International Schedule. The winning shots from each month were entered towards The Royal Bank of Scotland Shot of the Year Award.
The full list of contenders for the season award were: Padraig Harrington (November/December), Immelman (January) Paul Casey (February), Robert-Jan Derksen (March), Jacobson (April and October) Ignacio Garrido (May), Philip Golding (June), Sergio Garcia (July), Darren Clarke (August), and Westwood (September).
