The Johnnie Walker Championship at Gleneagles

26th - 29th August 2010

Edoardo Molinari birdied the last three holes to win the Johnnie Walker Championship at Gleneagles
29th August, 2010

Edoardo Molinari birdied the last three holes to win the Johnnie Walker Championship at Gleneagles.

The 29 year old Italian was two behind Australian Brett Rumford with three holes to play.

He then two-putted the long 16th, sank a curling 30 footer at the 194 yard 17th and then hit a chip to within 18 inches of the final hole.

“Playing on 16, I thought I was one behind, and I had two par fives to play and thought that I still had a chance to win the tournament if I make two birdies in the last three,” said Molinari.

“So I was playing very well and I knew I could do it and when I got on to the 16th tee and hit a great second shot I thought I had a great possibility.

“I knew I had to do two birdies on the last three at least to tie him and I had a big putt on 16, I think that was very important. And I hit it safely on the green on 17, and just before I hit the putt, Colin, my caddie told me I was owed a putt, because I hit a lot of good putts today that didn't go in, and he was right, because it went right in the divot and it was a difficult putt, as well.

“And then playing the last, I played a nice second shot, and made a great chip, again. Colin, he is the winner this week, not me, because we spent probably more time this week on the chipping than in the last six months. I started working with him three tournaments ago, at Bridgestone in the States, and I think he's the best caddie.”

Molinari, who won the Barclays Scottish Open and with his brother Francesco gave Italy their first-ever Omega Mission Hills World Cup victory last year, was then left to wait to see if he would receive one of Captain Colin Montgomerie’s Ryder Cup wildcards.

Molinari's latest triumph, which left him an agonising one point short of gaining automatic selection off the world points list, came with a one under par 71 in the windy conditions.

In the past year the Turin golfer has climbed from The Challenge Tour into the top 20 of The Official World Golf Ranking, took the €282,773 first prize with a ten under par total of 278.

Rumford was second and then two shots further back were Spaniard Miguel Angel Jiménez, Welshman Jamie Donaldson and Molinari's brother, who had been the overnight leader and was still in with a chance until he closed with a bogey six.

Jiménez and Swede Peter Hanson were able to start celebrating without waiting for Captain Montgomerie's decision an hour later.

They did what they had to do to clinch the final two automatic spots for The Celtic Manor Resort on October 1-3, while Simon Dyson, who began the week hoping that a win would get him into the side, finished sixth.

Jiménez needed a top nine finish to make sure and was joint third, while Hanson required top 43 and was 19th.

Monty’s Backroom Team Take Centre Stage at Gleneagles
9 August 2010

Thomas Björn, Darren Clarke and Paul McGinley have all confirmed they will play in the Johnnie Walker Championship at Gleneagles from August 26-29, 2010.

European Ryder Cup Captain Colin Montgomerie recently named the three vastly experienced and respected players as his Vice Captains, creating his backroom dream team as Europe aim to win back The Ryder Cup this October. Each has stellar Ryder Cup records and over 30 tournament titles between them. [News]

Champions Hedblom and Havret look forward to Gleneagles
29th June, 2010

Peter Hedblom and Grégory Havret, the 2009 and 2008 Champions, have confirmed they will play in the Johnnie Walker Championship at Gleneagles, 26th to 29th August 2010, both seeking to win the Championship for a second time. [News]

Previous winners of the Johnnie Walker Championship at Gleneagles include England’s Warren Bennett in 1999 and his fellow countryman Paul Casey who, to date, is the only player to have won the tournament on two occasions (2001 and 2006). They are joined on the Roll of Honour by Sweden’s Pierre Fulke (2000), Australia’s Adam Scott (2002), Denmark’s Søren Kjeldsen (2003), England’s Miles Tunnicliff (2004), Italy’s Emanuele Canonica (2005) and Grégory Havret of France (2008). The only Scot to have his name on the trophy to date is Marc Warren who triumphed in 2007, while the defending champion in August will be Sweden’s Peter Hedblom.

Aside from a European Tour exemption until the end of the 2012 season, the winner of the Johnnie Walker Championship at Gleneagles will receive a cheque for £233,330 from an overall prize fund of £1,400,000.

Hedblom lands Johnnie Walker Championship

Swede Peter Hedblom spoke of his delight after winning the Johnnie Walker Championship today.

The 39-year-old secured his third European Tour victory after overhauling compatriot Martin Erlandsson at The Gleneagles Hotel venue.

Hedblom, who led going into the final round for the second consecutive tournament, shot a five under par 67 to secure his first success on European soil.

He finished one ahead of his rival after Erlandsson, joint 20th overnight, had set the clubhouse target with an astonishing 62, the lowest round of his life.

After a magical nine birdies in his first 12 holes the world number 365, who last week closed the KLM Open with a course record-equalling 63, had moved from six behind to two in front.

Erlandsson added another birdie on the short 17th. His round would have counted as another course record but for the fact that placing of the ball was allowed all week on the wet fairways.

By then, however, Hedblom had reeled off four birdies in a row around the turn as well, but he then failed to get up and down from rough left of the 15th green.

So one more birdie was needed and it came with a superb pitch to four feet on the long 16th. Then two closing pars gave him the victory with a 13 under total of 275.

Defending champion Grégory Havret and Scotland's former The Open Championship winner Paul Lawrie shared third place.

Hedblom said: “That was so tough. I thought last week was, but this was harder.

“I had to dig down so deep, but I am so happy. What a round Martin played - I couldn't believe it and he should have won.

“I just had to plug on. I hit a great shot into 16, but making two pars was even harder.

“This year has been unbelievable. I played so poorly (not a single top 30 finish) until last week.

“I want to play in the big tournaments, but I keep taking one step back. Hopefully this is two steps forward.”

Erlandsson, whose seven successive birdies from the sixth was a The European Tour best for the season and only one short of the all-time record, has had chances to win before and admits he has struggled with the mental side.

As a result his psychologist, a former international hurdler, advised turning his mind to other things when under pressure.

“I was looking at my thumb and wondering how it looked,” he said. “I was also trying to look at a tree or somebody in the audience to keep my mind at peace.

“I got off to a good start and that helped my confidence and I really enjoyed it and played free and that was the key.”

Meanwhile, Lawrie remained upbeat despite the defeat.

“I had four good ball striking days last week, so we are now two events in a row where I've hit it like I want to hit it, and I think it was extremely close this week,” he said.

An event on The PGA European Tour, the Johnnie Walker Championship at Gleneagles attracts a field of the world’s best professional golfers.

Once again the Championship was held over The PGA Centenary Course, the venue for the 2014 Ryder Cup, from the 27th – 30th August, with a Pro-Am on Wednesday 26th August.