Jeff Winther carded a final round of even-par 70 to claim his maiden European Tour title at the 2021 Mallorca Golf Open.
The Dane entered the finale at a windy Golf Santa Ponsa holding a two-shot lead, highlighted by pair of 62s, and following a workmanlike score of 70, Winther remained at 15-under par, one clear of Spaniards Pep Angles (67) and Jorge Campillo (69), along with Swede Sebastian Soderberg (68), who finished runner-up for the second week in a row.
The 2015 European Challenge Tour graduate, who came through the Qualifying School in 2016, 2017 and 2018, has been inside the top 100 on the Race to Dubai Rankings the past two seasons and will now move up to No. 37. He will also break into the top 200 on the Official World Golf Ranking for the first time.
Winther cited his family, who traveled with him to Spain, for the key to his victory.
Literally.
“After breakfast I went to have a shower and my wife came in to use the bathroom as well,” said Winther, 33. “The door closed, and there’s no lock, but we locked ourselves in. There’s no lock on the door but the handle didn’t work.
“Our little girl Nora, six years old, had to go and find guys at reception to break down the door. We were in there for 45 minutes, I think. I thought, ‘Jeez not today, not Sunday, you’re leading the freaking event. Might not get there for your tee time’. What a morning!
He added, “It’s not sinking in. I couldn’t have a better week. I said at the start of the week that this was going to be like a holiday and apparently holidays work out for me
“I think it probably settled the nerves because I thought I might miss my tee time and thought I might not get out. The kids are in the living room, six and two years old, what can you do?
“It’s unbelievable (to win with his family here), it’s not sinking in. I couldn’t have a better week. I said at the start of the week that this was going to be like a holiday and apparently holidays work out for me.”
England’s Laurie Canter fired a low-round 64 to finish 12 under, alongside another Spaniard in Sebastian Garcia Rodriguez (68). It was Canter’s third top-5 finish in his last four starts.
2021 Mallorca Golf Open
Leaderboard: Top-5 Finishers
Pos-Player-To Par (Final Rd)
1. Jeff Winther -15 (E)
2. Pep Angles -14 (-3)
2. Jorge Campillo -14 (-1)
2. Sebastian Soderberg -14 (-2)
5. Laurie Canter -12 (-6)
5. Sebastian Rodriguez -12 (-2)
Credits: Getty Images, European Tour Media
