Simon Dyson wins KLM Open

England’s Simon Dyson overcame a six shot deficit in the final round of the KLM Open then secured victory in a playoff against Ireland’s Peter Lawrie and Peter Hedblom of Sweden.

Simon Dyson
Fergus Bisset
By
published

England’s Simon Dyson overcame a six shot deficit in the final round of the KLM Open then secured victory in a playoff against Ireland’s Peter Lawrie and Peter Hedblom of Sweden.

Dyson was off the pace after three rounds at Kennemer Golf Club in Zandvoort, Holland. But the Englishman rallied over the final 18. He fired a course record-equalling 63 made up of seven birdies and 11 pars to catch overnight leader Peter Hedblom. Peter Lawrie of Ireland closed with a three-under-par 67 to join Dyson and Hedblom at the top of the leaderboard.

Dyson then sealed the deal in the playoff as he birdied the first extra hole and claimed the title for the second time in four years.

Lawrie had led by one until he made a bogey at the 16th, then Hedblom nearly aced the par-3 17th meaning three were tied on -15 at the end of regulation play. So the trio made there way back to the 18th tee to settle the tournament in a sudden-death playoff. Hedblom flew the green with his approach and was unable to get up-and-down. Lawrie left himself a five-foot putt for par but Dyson made it obsolete as he rolled in his birdie attempt.

It was Dyson’s first victory since he triumphed in this event back in 2006 and his winner’s cheque for €300,000 is the biggest of his career. The York golfer has climbed to 28th in the Race to Dubai.

It was a good day for the Irish as Damien McGrane fired an excellent closing 64 to climb into fourth place while defending champion Darren Clarke ended the week in a tie for fifth with Jamie Donaldson of Wales.

KLM Open Kennemer G&CC, Netherlands Aug 20-23, purse €1,800,000, par 70

1    Simon Dyson (Eng)    67    67    68    63    265    €300,000 T2    Peter Hedblom (Swe)    66    66    64    69    265    €156,340 T2    Peter Lawrie (Ire)    65    68    65    67    265    €156,340 4    Damien McGrane (Ire) 67    67    68    64    266    €90,000 T5    Darren Clarke (NIR)    65    67    67    68    267    €69,660 T5    Jamie Donaldson (Wal) 66 68    66    67    267    €69,660 7    Bradley Dredge (Wal)    66    67    69    66    268    €54,000 8    Terry Pilkadaris (Aus) 69    65    66    69    269    €45,000 9    Niclas Fasth (Swe)    69    68    67    66    270    €40,320 T10    Ignacio Garrido (Esp) 66    69    69    67    271    €34,560 T10    Alexander Noren (Swe)    72    66    64    69    271    €34,560

Player scores listed in bold signifies Titleist ball usage only

Where next?

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Fergus Bisset
Fergus Bisset
Contributing Editor

Fergus is Golf Monthly's resident expert on the history of the game and has written extensively on that subject. He has also worked with Golf Monthly to produce a podcast series. Called 18 Majors: The Golf History Show it offers new and in-depth perspectives on some of the most important moments in golf's long history. You can find all the details about it here.

He is a golf obsessive and 1-handicapper. Growing up in the North East of Scotland, golf runs through his veins and his passion for the sport was bolstered during his time at St Andrews university studying history. He went on to earn a post graduate diploma from the London School of Journalism. Fergus has worked for Golf Monthly since 2004 and has written two books on the game; "Great Golf Debates" together with Jezz Ellwood of Golf Monthly and the history section of "The Ultimate Golf Book" together with Neil Tappin , also of Golf Monthly.

Fergus once shanked a ball from just over Granny Clark's Wynd on the 18th of the Old Course that struck the St Andrews Golf Club and rebounded into the Valley of Sin, from where he saved par. Who says there's no golfing god?

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