Play ‘Not today, not Sunday, you’re leading the freaking event' – Winther thanks daughter Nora (6) for escaping locked toilet to win Mallorca Open
Jeff Winther of Denmark celebrates with his family after his win at Mallorca Golf Open at Golf Santa Ponsa. Photo: Andrew Redington/Getty Images
Jeff Winther had his six-year-old daughter to thank as he closed with a 70 to clinch his maiden European Tour win in the Mallorca Golf Open.
The Dane (33) won by a shot from Swede Sebastian Soderberg and Spanish duo Pep Angles and Jorge Campillo on 15-under par.
But it was only thanks to daughter Nora that he made it to Golf Santa Ponsa in time after she came to the rescue when he got locked in the bathroom for almost an hour yesterday morning.
“After breakfast, I went to have a shower, and my wife came in to use the bathroom as well,” Winther explained. “The door closed, and there’s no lock, but we locked ourselves in. There’s no lock on the door, but the handle didn’t work. Our little girl Nora, six years old, had to go and find guys at reception to break down the door.
“We were in there for 45 minutes, I think. I thought, jeez, not today, not Sunday, you’re leading the freaking event. Might not get there for your tee-time. What a morning.”
Cormac Sharvin finished tied 61st on one-over after a 68, with Jonathan Caldwell five shots further back in 72nd after an 80.
On the LPGA Tour, Leona Maguire saw her slim hopes of winning the Louise Suggs Rookie of the Year title extinguished at the BMW Ladies Championship n South Korea.
Needing a top-six finish to have a mathematical chance of passing Patty Tavatanakit in the last two events, she closed with a one-over 73 to tie for 61st on even-par at LPGA International Busan.
South Korea’s Jin Young Ko fired with a bogey-free, eight-under 64 to match Hee Jeong Lim on 22-under, then birdied the first extra hole to win back-to-back and leapfrog Nelly Korda at the top of the world rankings.
At Stage II of the LPGA Qualifying School in Florida, Olivia Mehaffey finished tied 171st in the clubhouse on 16-over, 18 strokes outside the top 45 who will battle for LPGA and Symetra Tour cards at next month’s Q-Series.
The Royal County Down Ladies’ star was in trouble from the moment she opened with an eight-over 80 on the Panther Course at Plantation Golf & Country Club, and while she added rounds of 74 and 72 on the Bobcat Course, she struggled to a closing 78 on the Panther Course yesterday.
Meanwhile, Masters champion Hideki Matsuyama (29) closed with a five-under 65 to win the PGA Tour’s Zozo Championship in his native Japan and his seventh PGA Tour title. He won by five strokes from Cameron Tringale (69) and Brendan Steele (66) on 15-under par at Narashino Country Club.
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