Soren Kjeldsen ends six-year Euro Tour drought at Irish Open
Soren Kjeldsen had been waiting six years for his next win on the European Tour. He got it on Sunday at the Irish Open, prevailing in a three-man playoff for his first pro title in his 40s.
The Dane finished at 2-under 282 along with Bernd Wiesberger and Eddie Pepperell, then birdied the first playoff hole at Royal County Down for the win. Kjeldsen hasn’t won on the European Tour since the 2009 Open de Andalucia.
Kjeldsen had a two-shot lead coming into the final round, but on a day where the scoring average was 74, he shot 76 to back into overtime. Pepperell had turned in a miraculous, bogey-free 69, while Wiesberger shot 1-over 73. Both had to wait for Kjeldsen, in the final group, to limp to the house.
On the first playoff hole, the par-5 18th, Kjeldsen found the green in two and, after both players were unable to make their unlikely birdie bids, the Dane’s putt spun around the hole and down for the win.
All of a sudden, Kjeldsen, who was 112th on the European Tour’s order of merit just three weeks ago, now is secure for the rest of the season.
Ryan Ballengee is a Yahoo Sports contributor. Find him on Facebook and Twitter.
