LET player's driver breaks moments before sudden death playoff

Anne van Dam had her driver broken in extraordinary circumstances at the KPMG Women’s Irish Open.

van Dam was being driven to a sudden death playoff against Smilla Tarning Soenderby and Lisa Petterson when she and an official ducked under a rope to the par-5 18th hole at Dromoland Castle.

The rope caught her golf bag and pulled it off the back of the buggy. When they got off to inspect the damage, the driver was snapped.

The 27-year-old couldn’t get a replacement and teed off with a three-wood in the playoff.

She found the fairway but couldn’t match the impressive eagle of Soenderby who took her first Ladies European Tour title in dramatic fashion.

Wow how unfortunate is this and I’m lost for words @Annevandam driver snapped heading back to the 18th @GolfDromoland for playoff @LETgolf 😳 @KPMG pic.twitter.com/CR2klQY2JW
— David Foley PGA (@davidjfoley) September 3, 2023

van Dam fell short of her sixth trophy on the circuit having led by three shots heading into the final round. Soenderby shot a stunning 62 on Sunday to tie van Dam and Petterson, who carded a 68 of her own to reach 16-under-par.

“I’m not quite sure what happened there, actually,” Soenderby said.

“I hit a good drive, a very long drive compared to the first time around, and then I had 178 yards. I just wanted to get it in the middle of the green. I missed it a bit left, and it sounded like almost holed it and then the putt went in

“Pretty chaotic playoff hole when I got to that tee box,” Soenderby said of Van Dam’s driver mishap.

“I’m really sorry for what happened to Anne. Like it’s super unfortunate, she did quite well anyway.”

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Matt Chivers

Now on the wrong side of 25, Matt has been playing golf since the age of 13 and was largely inspired to take up the game by countless family members who played golf during his childhood.

Matt is a member at Royal Cinque Ports in Deal playing off a 5 handicap, just a pitching wedge away from his hometown of Dover where he went to school and grew up. He has previously been a member at Etchinghill and Walmer and Kingsdown in Kent.

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