Gonzalez's Shot of the Month

Ricardo Gonzalez’s magical approach to the 18th green on the final day of the SAS Masters has been awarded The European Tour Shot of the Month for July. The Argentine stood on the final tee at Bärseback Golf and Country Club with a one-shot lead, but pulled his drive into the trees lining the left-hand side of the fairway. Gonzalez looked to have his path to the green blocked, but somehow managed to conjure up a remarkable recovery shot which narrowly avoided the trees before finishing within six feet of the pin. He duly rolled in the putt for his third consecutive birdie to claim his fourth European Tour title in some style. Speaking afterwards, the charismatic Argentine said: “I don’t know whether the shot on the last was just luck, or just brilliant!” Gonzalez also won second place for his bunker shot in the same event at the par three 17th hole where, despite a plugged lie which would have made just finding the green tricky enough, he managed to chip in for a superb birdie. England’s Lee Westwood claimed third place for another bunker shot, this time to the 18th hole on the final day at Turnberry, where he came within one shot of joining the American duo of Stewart Cink and Tom Watson in a play-off to determine the winner of The 138th Open Championship. Gonzalez becomes the second successive Argentine to win the Shot of the Month Award, following his compatriot Rafael Echenique’s victory in June. The other winners of the Shot of the Month award this year are: Rory McIlroy of Northern Ireland (January and March), Paul Casey of England (February and May) and Argentina’s Angel Cabrera (April). The European Tour Shot of the Month is awarded to the Tour Member for the shot judged to be the best played each month on The European Tour International Schedule. At the end of the season, the winning shot from each month will be nominated for the Shot of the Year Award.