Bjork claims maiden European Tour win in China
What happened at the Volvo China Open?
Sweden’s Alexander Bjork fired a final round 65 to win for the very first time on the European Tour at the Volvo China Open.
It was a congested final round at the Topwin Golf & Country Club, with Jordan Smith setting the clubhouse lead at 16-under.
But Bjork managed to birdie both 15 and 17 to post an 18-under total, with only Adrian Otaegui and Matt Wallace in the final group able to match him.
When Otaegui three-putted the 17th, only an eagle at the final hole, from either player, could take Bjork to a playoff.
Wallace crunched a long-iron straight down the pin, but it flew over the back, leaving a tricky chip which he left well short. Otaegui pulled his fairway metal, but he could only get up and down to finish a shot short of the Swede, who was waiting anxiously in front of the TV screen.
That winning feeling ?#VolvoChinaOpen pic.twitter.com/xhL82nlyfd
— The European Tour (@EuropeanTour) April 29, 2018
Talking point
Bjork’s win further underlines the strength of the European Tour’s feeder tour, the Challenge Tour.
The Swede won Le Vaudreuil Golf Challenge in 2016, and that has proved to be a perfect stepping stone as he has now gone on to win on the European Tour. This win was coming though – Bjork finished 3rd last week in Morocco, but he has shown signs of class ever since his performance at the Rolex Series HNA Open de France last year where he finished tied for 3rd.
Congratulations @AlexBjorkGolf ?
Two years ago he graduated onto the @EuropeanTour – here's how he did it ? pic.twitter.com/uvjeXM43yx
— Challenge Tour (@Challenge_Tour) April 29, 2018
Challenge Tour graduates going on to win at the highest level has started to become a theme. Last year Jordan Smith and Dylan Frittelli made the step up to win, but over the years we have seen the likes of Brooks Koepka, Byeong-hun An, Tommy Fleetwood, Tyrrell Hatton, Bernd Wiesberger, Chris Paisley and Andrew Johnston all graduate and go on to compete at a world class level.
Might we see more American golfers, like Koepka, come over to Europe and try to pave out their career on the Challenge Tour? Julian Suri and Peter Uihlein have also showed that it’s a viable option.
Nevertheless, European golf certainly seems to be in a good place.
Best moments
Now he waits ?@AlexBjorkGolf, our Champion in waiting? pic.twitter.com/CiEdh2c2zs
— The European Tour (@EuropeanTour) April 29, 2018
Another Björk birdie.
The Swede heads to 18 with a two-shot lead (for now). pic.twitter.com/djgjfm137l
— The European Tour (@EuropeanTour) April 29, 2018
16-under par and leader in the clubhouse.
What a round by @Jsmithgolf. pic.twitter.com/WKOgApUzR7
— The European Tour (@EuropeanTour) April 29, 2018
? Hole-in-one ?
China's Ashun Wu delights home fans and moves in contention. pic.twitter.com/sswEOTiKux
— The European Tour (@EuropeanTour) April 29, 2018
Best Quote
"The best round of my life"
Words from our Champion, @AlexBjorkGolf. pic.twitter.com/DsBJw5dYHV
— The European Tour (@EuropeanTour) April 29, 2018
Best Stat
It was just a matter of time… Brilliant 1st European Tour win for @AlexBjorkGolf at the #VolvoChinaOpen! Will jump to a career best #73 in the world rankings. #OWGR
— Nosferatu (@VC606) April 29, 2018
#OWGR update after week #17:
3Rahm
4Spieth
10Reed
11Garcia
47Levy
64Dunne
71Sharma
73Bjork ?
85Campillo
91Wallace
93?
99Otaegui
108JLSmith— Nosferatu (@VC606) April 29, 2018
The best English golfers of all time
Quiz: English major champions
Tom Irwin
Tom is a lifetime golfer, now over 30 years playing the game. 2023 marks 10 years in golf publishing and he is still holding down a + handicap at Alwoodley in Leeds. He has played over 600 golf courses, and has been a member of at least four including his first love Louth, in Lincolnshire. Tom likes unbranded clothing, natural fibres, and pencil bags. Seacroft in Lincolnshire is where it starts and ends.
