Sterne's Shot of the Month

Richard Sterne has won The European Tour Shot of the Month Award for January thanks to his outstanding bunker shot on the first extra hole of the Joburg Open in South Africa. The 26 year old had looked to be in trouble on the 551 yard 18th at Royal Johannesburg and Kensington Golf Club when his errant drive found a fairway bunker, 216 yards from the green. But with compatriot Garth Mulroy and Sweden’s Magnus A Carlsson seemingly better placed, Sterne hit a four iron from the sand to within 15 feet of the pin. The shot kept him in contention in the play-off, which he duly won at the second extra hole with another birdie four to claim a winner’s cheque for €174,350. Sterne said: “It was close all day, so it required something special to win. It was a pretty impressive shot, even if I say so myself. I thought about laying up, but it was a play-off and the shot was 50:50. I thought it was on, and went for it.” Finishing runner-up in the January Shot of the Month Awards was Sweden’s Johan Edfors, for his fearless approach to the 15th on day three of the Commercialbank Qatar Masters presented by Dolphin Energy; whilst Germany’s Martin Kaymer’s huge two iron over the water and onto the 18th green on the final day of the Dubai Desert Classic was voted the third best shot of the month. The European Tour Shot of the Month Award 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. The winning shots from each month are entered towards The European Tour Shot of the Year Award.