Sergio Garcia of Spain has won The Royal Bank of Scotland Shot of the Month Award for July. 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.
Garcia did not win the 132nd Open Golf Championship at Royal St George’’s, but his 67 yard chip and run for a par four at the 17th hole during the third round proved to be the pick of a dramatic Championship. The Spaniard was still well short of the green in three shots but displayed the touch of a magician by holing his fourth stroke for a par four, which kept him two off the lead going into the final day.
The shot provoked a passionate reaction from the galleries and Garcia himself and his superbly executed effort was voted by a panel comprising The European Tour and the golfing media as the best played by a European Tour Member during the month of July.
“I just played the perfect bump and run with a sand wedge from 67 yards,” said Garcia. “I wanted to bounce it just short of the green and let it run down towards the hole. As soon as I hit it, it felt good. I was hoping for a good bounce, I got it, and as soon as it went to the top of the hill and started to run down the green I knew it would be close, but I wasn’’t expecting it to be that close!
“The cheer when it went in was unbelievable, that was the best thing about the whole shot really. It was just like at the Bernabeu Stadium when Real Madrid had scored the goal to win the Champions League. It was an amazing moment.”
In second place was Michael Campbell’’s eight iron approach from 145 yards at the first hole of a sudden-death play-off for the Nissan Irish Open at Portmarnock. The ball nestled less than 12 inches from the hole for a winning birdie three.
In third place was Greg Norman’’s perfect illustration of how to play links golf in windy conditions. The Australian punched a four iron 194 yards at the fourth hole on the first day of the Open Golf Championship, setting up a tap-in eagle three.
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.
Garcia is the seventh monthly winner, following Trevor Immelman (January), Paul Casey (February), Robert-Jan Derksen (March), Fredrik Jacobson (April), Ignacio Garrido (May) and Philip Golding (June).
For further information contact:
Communications Department
The European Tour
Tel: +44 (0) 1344 840400
Fax: +44 (0) 1344 840444
