Soren's soaring Success

Søren Kjeldsen’s impressive victory in the Open de Andalucia de Golf 09, his second victory in Spain in six months, earned him the award of The Race to Dubai European Tour Golfer of the Month for March. The 33 year old Dane from Aalborg, who receives a jeroboam of Moët and Chandon champagne along with an engraved Alms Dish in recognition of his success, was the choice of the panel comprising members of the Association of Golf Writers as well as television and radio commentators. The Tour award - which celebrates its 25th anniversary in 2009 – is now under the sponsorship banner of Leisurecorp, the company whose groundbreaking agreement with The European Tour has created The Race to Dubai, which culminates in the $10 million Dubai World Championship in November. Kjeldsen, who makes his Masters Tournament debut at Augusta National tomorrow, set a new course record at Real Club de Golf de Sevilla in the third round with a stunning ten under par 62 and went on to win his third title by three strokes after a terrific tussle with Scotland’s David Drysdale on the final afternoon. Kjeldsen’s victory followed a highly credible joint seventh place finish in the World Golf Championships – CA Championship at the Doral Resort and Spa, Miami, a fortnight earlier, and lifted him into the top 15 in The Race to Dubai and to a career high of 42nd in the Official World Golf Ranking. Indeed, Andalucia has proved a very happy hunting ground for Kjeldsen as last November he also won the Volvo Masters at Valderrama. Kjeldsen won the award after another exceptional month for European Tour Members on the world stage. Estanislao Goya became the youngest Argentine winner on The European Tour when he captured the Madeira Islands Open BPI – Portugal, while Y E Yang became only the second Korean to win on the US PGA Tour when he won the Honda Classic. Retief Goosen was also successful in America in winning the Transitions Championship, his first US PGA Tour victory in four years, and Thailand’s Chapchai Nirat set a new record of 32 under par in winning the SAIL Open on the Asian Tour by a staggering 11 strokes. There were also wins for Jyoti Randhawa, in the Singha Thailand Open; Steve Alker, in the HSBC New Zealand PGA Championship; and Eduardo Romero, in the Toshiba Classic on the US Champions Tour. Iain Carter, golf correspondent of BBC Radio 5 Live, said: “Søren’s success in Andalucia and the manner in which he won, with the course record in the third round, made him a deserving recipient of the award. March was a notable month for The European Tour with some exceptional performances, particularly from Y E Yang, but Kjeldsen’s victory stood out to win the award.” Kjeldsen is the third winner of The Race to Dubai European Tour Golfer of the Month Award this year after Northern Ireland’s Rory McIlroy (January) and Australian Geoff Ogilvy (February). The Race to Dubai European Tour Golfer of the Year will be selected from a panel from the Association of Golf Writers, Radio and Television following the Dubai World Championship at the Earth Course, Jumeirah Golf Estates, from November 19-22, 2009, where the winner of The Race to Dubai will be confirmed.