Mikko Ilonen ends his six-year title drought at the Nordea Masters – Golf News
Mikko Ilonen finally managed to end his six-year title drought, as he stunned his rivals at the Nordea Masters and claimed a three-stroke victory over Jonas Blixt, on Sunday, June 2, 2013.
The tournament was sanctioned by the European Tour and was being played at the Bro Hof Slott Golf Club, Stockholm, Sweden.
Ilonen was recently enjoying a great form and twice came close to victories, as he finished second in two of his last appearances before Nordea Masters.
Before he teed off in Germany last week, he was really confident to covert his close finishes into a victory, which he managed to do by securing the top spot after carding a three-under par 69 in the final round.
Talking to the European Tour’s official website, he expressed his pleasure in bouncing back strongly after recording a couple of second-place finishes this season.
“To bounce back this soon is really good,” he continued. “It’s really satisfying, but the show I saw in China - I didn’t lose the tournament, Brett won it, so hats off to him.”
Entering the final round, he held a two-stroke lead. He then added birdies on the second and the third hole, followed by six straight pars, to reach the turn in two-under.
The back nine of the course witnessed him adding another two shots, along with a blemish on the 12th hole, to post a gigantic 21-under par tournament score, which no one else in the field managed to match.
“It’s pretty special. I could feel a lot of support from Finland, especially today," said Ilonen.
When asked about his bogey on the 12th hole, he replied, “I just got ahead of myself with the first putt. I’ve said for weeks now it doesn’t really bother me if I make a bogey because I know I can make it up and it was
the first time I went for the 13th in two.”
The winner of last month’s BMW PGA Championship, Matteo Manassero, in the meantime, finished tied for the fourth position, courtesy of his 16-under par tournament score. His final-round score was two-under par 70.
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