Former European Tour winner Fredrik Andersson Hed has passed away at the age of just 49, following a battle with cancer.
Born in the city of Halmstad, Sweden, Andersson Hed was an accomplished amateur player, winning the European Young Masters and Swedish Junior Stroke-Play Championship in 1990.
He won twice on the European Challenge Tour.
Andersson Hed’s best seasons as a tour pro occurred between 2010 and 2012, when he won his lone European Tour title at the BMW Italian Open, and cracked the top 100 in the Official World Rankings. He finished 22nd in the points standings in 2010, aided by the win in Italy, and a runner-up finish at the prestigious BMW PGA Championship.
He also secured five additional top-10s that magical season, including a T6 finish at the WGC-HSBC Champions, alongside superstars Ernie Els and Tiger Woods.
In 2011 and 2012 he added three more runner-up finishes: 2011 Scottish Open, 2012 Omega European Masters and 2012 Hong Kong Open.
Following 358 European Tour appearances, Andersson Hed retired from golf in 2015 at the age of 42 after missing the cut at the European Tour Qualifying School by one stroke.
In 2016, he became a golf commentator for Sweden’s national public broadcaster, Sveriges Television.
In a tribute, European Tour Chief Operating Officer Keith Waters said:
“On behalf of the European Tour, I send our deepest condolences to Fredrik’s family and friends, particularly his wife Anna and children Viggo and Molly. It’s always incredibly sad when we lose a member of the European Tour family, and never more so than in the case of someone like Fredrik, who was taken far too soon.
“Fredrik was much loved in the golfing world and beyond, particularly amongst our Scandinavian players and staff, past and present. Our hearts go out to them at this incredibly sad time.
“I had the pleasure of knowing Fredrik, but even for those who didn’t, one glance at his career record highlights his strength and perseverance, with some genuinely wonderful moments as an individual and a valued team mate. I hope those close to him take some comfort in those wonderful memories, and the joy he brought to so many on the golf course.”
Credits: European Tour Media
