Thomas Aiken and wife Kate displayed their ruelationship is just as strong inside the ropes as it is outside with an amazing husband-and-wife success in the Africa Open.
The duo became the first couple to win on the European Tour since Chris Di Marco and his wife teamed to capture the inaugural Abu Dhabi HSBC Championship.
Thomas Aiken and his caddying wife Kate celebrate victory in the Africa Open. (Photo – www.golffile.ie)
Also Aiken’s victory comes just weeks after Spain’s Sergio Garcia captured the Asian Tour’s Thailand Golf Championship with his girlfriend acting as caddy.
AND WITH HIS VICTORY –
• Aiken’s third European Tour International Schedule victory in his 180th European Tour event.
• Moves to €385,225 in The Race to Dubai.
• Could move to just outside the top 80 in the Official World Golf Ranking, from 113.
• His first European Tour victory since the 2013 Avantha Masters.
• Wins in consecutive European Tour seasons for the first time in his career.
• Continues with his excellent recent run of form. His third consecutive top five finish on The European Tour. He was tied fifth in both the Commercial Bank Qatar Masters and Joburg Open.
• The second consecutive South African to win on The European Tour, following George Coetzee at the Joburg Open.
• The fifth consecutive South African to win the Africa Open. He follows: Charl Schwartzel (2010), Louis Oosthuizen (2011-12) and Darren Fichardt (2013).
• Victory comes in his fifth appearance in the Africa Open. (Has played every year since the tournament became part of The European Tour in 2010).
• This victory beats his previous best finish in the Africa Open of second in 2010. (Has never finished lower than 14th).
Thomas Aiken kisses his caddy wife Kate after their Africa Open. (Photo – www.golffille.ie)
• His four shot final round winning comeback equals the largest of the 2014 season to date, matching the total of George Coetzee at the Joburg Open.
• His four shot comeback is the largest winning comeback in the history of the Africa Open, beating the two of Charl Schwartzel in 2010.
• Is the ninth time from the 11 tournaments so far this season that a player has made up a final round deficit to win. (Only Charl Schwartzel (Alfred Dunhill Championship) and Stephen Gallacher (Omega Dubai Desert Classic) have won this season after leading after 54 holes).
Had his wife, Kate caddying for him. Is the first time a husband has won with his wife on the bag since Chris DiMarco at the 2006 Abu Dhabi HSBC Golf Championship.
OTHER FACTS
• The 122nd South African victory in European Tour history.
• The sixth South African to win from the first t11 events of the 2014 season. They are: Charl Schwartzel (Alfred Dunhill Championship), Dawie Van der Walt (Nelson Mandela Championship presented by ISPS Handa), Louis Oosthuizen (Volvo Golf Champions), George Coetzee (Joburg Open) and Thomas Aiken (Africa Open).
• The third European Tour event that South Africa have won for five consecutive seasons. This would follow the South Africa Open Championship and Joburg Open.
• His third top five finish and fourth top ten finish this season from his eight events played.
• His 11th victory as a professional but first European Tour win on home soil.
• The 37th South African victory from the 58 events jointly-sanctioned between The European Tour and Sunshine Tour played, since the first one in 1995.
• The 20th South African victory on The European Tour since the start of the 2012 European Tour season. This is the most of any country.
