Aug 06, 2019: Every year on the European Tour we’re treated to a range of dramatic story lines – whether uplifting, thought-provoking or – at times – quite funny.
After a through look back through this season’s archives, we’ve compiled a list of the ten standout quotes from the current campaign to date.
I shot 49 once at Pebble Beach on PlayStation – Marcus Kinhult
He may have been teeing it up in his first Major Championship on American soil at the U.S. Open earlier this year, but Sweden’s Kinhult had a secret advantage over many of his more experienced competitors.
The 23-year-old revealed that he had in fact played the renowned Californian links layout regularly on a computer game, with a personal best of 49 (that’s an incredible 22-under-par!)
Kinhult would finish a very respectable tied 32nd in his first tournament at Pebble Beach – who needs practice rounds when you’ve got a PlayStation, eh?
I couldn’t even bring myself to go get my clubs from my locker. I just left them. I just went back to the hotel and cried – Andrew ‘Beef’ Johnston
In one of the most revealing European Tour Player Blogs to date, ‘Beef’ wrote about his mental health struggles and how with professional help he is starting to rediscover his love for golf.
One week later at the Aberdeen Standard Investments Scottish Open the Englishman fired his lowest round on the European Tour – 62 – to finish in tied fourth and qualify for The Open Championship.
Following that performance, the 30-year-old gave another moving interview…
My goal is to make it to the European Tour, go there without shame and beat them all – Adem Wahbi
Following the introduction of events for disabled golfers on the European Tour this year – in partnership with the EDGA – young Belgian Adem Wahbi, who suffers from spastic diplegia, a form of cerebral palsy, told his story in this inspirational video.
Adem – who competed in an exhibition event at the Belgian Knockout and in the EDGA Scottish Open – gives an insight into his condition and outlines his aims for the future below.
That’s a lovely flight … just a shame it’s 25 yards left – Tyrrell Hatton
During the British Masters supported by Sky Sports, Hatton went viral after his relatable reaction to missing the green.
Who else has felt like the three-time European Tour winner here?
I drank rat poison in a freak accident when I was two. I took a drink of it thinking it was Coke, but it wasn’t. That moment changed my live forever – Christiaan Bezuidenhout
During an in-depth interview ahead of the Commercial Bank Qatar Masters, South Africa’s Bezuidenhout spoke of his battles with anxiety having developed a stutter aged four following an accident as a toddler.
Since that revelation, the 25-year-old has gone on to become a European Tour winner after triumphing at the Estrella Damm N.A. Andalucía Masters.
My biggest mistake in golf was not giving myself credit for the success I had. I treated success and defeat almost the same – Martin Kaymer
Prior to the U.S. Open, we spent some time with two-time Major Champion Kaymer who reflected on his career to date – and his mental approach to golf, and modern life.
When I was ten years old, I used to imagine I had a putt to beat Tiger when practising. Just to play with him today was great – Lucas Bjerregaard
During this year’s WGC-Dell Technologies Match Play Bjerregaard made headlines throughout the golfing world when he took down Tiger Woods 1UP in the quarter-final stages of the match play event.
The 28-year-old was unsurprisingly ecstatic to have taken down a player he’d dreamed of playing with since he was a child.
I had to stop myself from crying about four times on the back nine, just because of the level of the support – Rory McIlroy
It wasn’t to be for McIlroy at The Open this year, but after his second round 65 – in front of a raucous home crowd who were willing him on every step of the way – the Northern Irishman was quite rightly emotional.
I think I made a few new fans with those double bogeys – Francesco Molinari
If you were to describe Francesco Molinari in one word what would it be? We think humble would be right up there.
The 2018 Champion Golfer of the Year was beaten in a final-day duel with Woods at this year’s Masters Tournament, but that didn’t stop him from making light of what must have been a painful situation. Win or lose, a true champion in every sense.
My wife or my three wood? That’s a very easy question, it’s going to be the three wood – Henrik Stenson
A simple question and an emphatic answer. How can you not love Henrik?
Source – European Tour
