South African Jbe Kruger won the recently concluded Avantha Masters 2012, India’s one and only European Tour. His first win on both Asian and European tours, the 25-year-old was flawless through the day and had three birdies on the front nine and turned in three-under.
“I’m very relieved to win for the first time,” said Kruger, who putted beautifully all week. “If you want to win you need to make putts on the final day and I did that today. It’s a big relief now that I’ve won but I think I needed all those second-placed finishes to be able to appreciate it. There was no pressure even when I made my only bogey of the day on the 17th.
Through the day he either led or at least had a share of the lead, when at times Marcel Siem (70) and Jose Manuel Lara (70) seemed to give him a challenge in the richest tournament staged in India. He finished at 14-under 274 and two shots clear of Spain’s Jorge Campillo (67) and Germany’s Marcel Siem (70) at the DLF Golf and Country Club in Gurgaon on 19th Feb.
Kruger added, “I felt that victory was inevitable when I got to the 14th hole. I knew that I had a good chance as I had a comfortable three-shot cushion then. I like to know what’s going on and I’m aware of the movements on the leaderboard.”
Kruger was three ahead on the 17th tee and then he had a bad approach shot and missed an up-and-down and logged a bogey. On the 18th, his drive was wayward and then struck a camera. His second shot went into the trees, but he hit his third over the water and onto the green. He two-putted for a par and the trophy was his with a card of 69. Kruger received the glittering trophy from Mr. Gautam Thapar, Chairman and CEO of the Avantha Group. He also picked up the winner’s prize cheque worth 300,000 and moved to the top of the Asian Tour Order of Merit.
Thailand’s Prom Meesawat emerged as the leading Asian after he signed for a 71 to take a share of sixth place with three other players while compatriot Kiradech Aphibarnrat closed with a 68 to finish in tied-10th at the Avantha Masters, which is tri-sanctioned by the Asian Tour, European Tour and Professional Golf Tour of India (PGTI).