Mikko Illonen of Finland has won the European Tour Shot of the Month for August in recognition of the superb four iron tee shot on the 18th hole on the final day at Arlandastad Golf, Stockholm, Sweden, that set up the birdie that helped him to win the Scandinavian Masters.
A double bogey at the 16th hole in the final round looked to have ended the Finn’s chance of winning in Sweden, but Ilonen refused to accept that would be his fate. He duly fired a wonderful four iron at the demanding 213 yard 18th hole up and over the crest on the green before the ball came to rest a mere five feet away from the pin.
The resultant birdie two – one of only seven birdies in the entire final day – helped him claim his second European Tour title.
“It was the first time I hit the 18th green all week, including a couple of attempts in the practice rounds,” recalled Ilonen. “My playing partner Paul Broadhurst hit his three-iron a little fat and it still ran through the green so I knew it was a perfect four iron for me. It came off the club-face perfectly. I knew if I could make a birdie I’d have a chance to win – and I’m very happy I did.”
That wonderful stroke under pressure proved enough for Ilonen to get the vote of the panel who select The European Tour Shot of the Month.
In second place was England’s Ross Fisher, who claimed his maiden European Tour title when he won The KLM Open in Holland.
Having bogeyed the 16th and 17th holes in the final round, the pressure was mounting on the young man from Wentworth, but he responded magnificently.
He was faced with an uphill blind pitch shot over the greenside bunker at the 18th but played it to perfection, with the ball finishing just five feet from the hole. The crucial birdie three saw him win by a shot from home favourite, Joost Luiten.
In third place was Scotland’s Marc Warren, who captured the Johnnie Walker Championship at Gleneagles after a play-off with England’s Simon Wakefield.
Having just bogeyed the 13th hole in the final round, Warren knew he had to produce something special to kick start his pursuit of Wakefield and the Scotsman did just that at the 14th hole - a superb approach shot spinning back to within a foot of the hole.
The resulting birdie three gave him the impetus to go on and win for the first time in his home country, after he eventually defeated Wakefield on the second-hole of their sudden-death play-off.
