England’s Callum Shinkwin can call himself a European Tour winner after his stunning Aphrodite Hills Cyprus Open success.
Not only has the 27-year old Bath-born golfer captured a first Tour title in his 112th Tour appearance but he’s the first golfer on the Tour to win in Cyprus and the 50th nation to host a European Tour event.
Shinkwin firstly holed a near 50-foot putt for eagle at the 72nd hole in a new tournament course record of 63 and then birdied the same 18th hole at the first extra hole to defeat Finland’s Kalle Samooja who had birdied his last in regulation in a score of 64 but then missed a putt from a similar distance for par in the play-off..
Callum Shinkwin makes it a doulbe Cyprus victory first
“It’s something I’ve always wanted to do (win on the European Tour), and now I have. It’s been a bit of a shock, but it feels great,” said Shinwan who was later connected via a greenside lap-top to wife, Stephy and young son, Oscar.
“Jordan Smith’s marker, he had a massive lump of steel as a marker (on 18), I said ‘Jordan, you’ve got to get that out of the way, that’s got to go at least two to the right’. The putt ran straight over where it was, right through the middle.
“I felt relaxed all day, I felt great to be fair. 15 and 16 were playing me up all week. I was more nervous playing those two holes just to get through them than in the play-off or on the 18th. I managed to get through them really well and I felt great.
“We have been playing in the cold got to me a bit. Played four weeks in a row in the cold, and at the Scottish Open I just felt so cold, had a massive headache and had to get out of there quickly, just to protect myself more than anything.
“Had a lovely bit of sun here, nice and warm. I don’t really like the warm either, but I’ve just felt great all week, trusted what I was doing with my swing, trusted myself on the greens, and just felt great.”
After an excellent amateur career, Shinkwin graduated from the European Challenge Tour in 2015 and looked to quickly have adjusted to life on the European Tour, comfortably keeping his playing privileges in his rookie campaign.
The following season saw him miss out in a play-off to Rafa Cabrera Bello at the Aberdeen Asset Management Scottish Open when a par on the 72nd hole would have handed him the title, and he went on to lose his card in 2018.
Five top-10s in 2019 saw him regain his place on Tour and he now becomes the 11th first time winner on the 2020 Race to Dubai.
“I dug deep in 2019 and got my card back, and this year obviously with what has gone on, I’m happy to win,” he said.
“I noticed at the start of the week they have cider here, which I love. They’ve got Somersby and Kopparberg so I think I’ll celebrate with a few of them tonight.”
