Philip Golding of England has won The Royal Bank of Scotland Shot of the Month Award for June. He receives The Royal Bank of Scotland Shot of the Month Trophy from Waterford Crystal and a cheque for £1000 to be donated to a charity of his choice.
Golding’’s victory in the Open de France in Paris was a triumph for perseverance. It was his 201st start on The European Tour International Schedule and he sealed his first victory with a wonderful shot to the 18th green at Le Golf National.
The 41 year old, who had made a record 16 visits to the Qualifying School Finals, had 167 yards to the flag with water in front of and behind the green. His six iron pitched almost in the hole and finished 15 feet away, allowing him the luxury of two putts for a birdie four and a one stroke victory over fellow Englishman David Howell.
That superb stroke was voted as the best played by a European Tour Member during June and Golding recounted: “I had 167 yards to go and that is normally a good seven iron for me but the wind got up and I felt that it would take another three quarters of a club to get home.
“Although there is water in front of and behind the green, there is plenty of green to work with. I have a book of golfing quotes at home and remembered one which said: ‘When playing over water you can either hit one more club or two more balls!’’
“I was happy to go down the shaft with a six iron and it almost pitched in the hole. It was a pressure shot and I had to remind myself that these moments are what you practise for. It may not come again. You have to take it when it comes. A lot of people said how relaxed I was. I was calm. I wasn’’t flapping under the surface.”
The winning shot was selected by a panel comprising The European Tour and the golfing media. In second place was Greg Owen’’s three iron to the 71st hole in The Daily Telegraph Damovo British Masters at the Marriott Forest of Arden which set up a two putt birdie to secure the tournament.
In third place was the 30 foot birdie putt holed by Denmark’’s Søren Kjeldsen at the 14th hole in the final round of The Diageo Championship at Gleneagles which helped him claim his first title.
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. In December 2003, the winning shots from each month will be entered towards The Royal Bank of Scotland Shot of the Year Award.
Golding is the sixth monthly winner, following Trevor Immelman (January), Paul Casey (February), Robert-Jan Derksen (March), Fredrik Jacobson (April) and Ignacio Garrido (May).
