Pepperell is in safe hands
EDDIE PEPPERELL holed another miracle shot on his way to winning the British Masters – and this time gave the credit to his mum.
The Oxford star aced the ninth hole on balmy Thursday as he shared the first-round lead. And in the freezing cold yesterday, he holed out on the 10th from heavy rough from 124 yards for a stunning eagle on his way to a two-shot win Walton Heath. “Credit for the eagle goes to my mum,” he said. “She gave me mittens as I was walking off the 10th tee to keep my hands warm. Mums are great for everything. Mums always know best.” The 27-year-old could now get a mitten sponsor as well as a hat one. “I’m definitely available,” he said. Pepperell ground out a level-par 72 in at
Mum gave me mittens as I walked off 10th tee
the wintry conditions for the biggest win of his career – and enjoyed warm celebrations with his parents Marian and Ron as well as girlfriend Jen.
“I’m really pleased they were here to see it,” he said. “They weren’t in Qatar for my win in February so for them to be here is awesome. This proves I’m not a one-hit wonder.”
He took a three-shot lead into the final round but two late bogeys saw his playing partner Alexander Bjork move to within a stroke on the 18th tee. But after the Swede found heather and then a bunker on his way to a bogey, Pepperell drilled his drive down the middle and made a cool sand save for his closing par.
“It was tough – I didn’t sleep too well the last couple nights,” he said. “I played terrible leading up to the event – Wednesday was the worst I’ve played for ages – and then it was hard to keep my mind on the golf because I was leading all week. My mind was very active, especially with all the stuff after the hole-in-one, the social media, it’s hard to avoid that. I’m slightly narcissistic.”
From being outside the world’s top 500 last year, Pepperell will climb into the top 35 after banking £500,000 and is set to make his Masters debut in April. “I’m not really ready for the extra attention – I don’t think anybody looks forward to that,” he said.
Tournament host Justin Rose, who finished eighth after a closing 70, said: “I love the way he swings it. He’s got talent and he’s a character. He’s out there with his ENGLAND’S Charley Hull was beaten into second place by a stunning final round from home favourite Chun In-Gee at the LPGA’s KEB Hana Bank Championship in South Korea.
In-Gee, 24, started the day two shots off joint leaders Hull and American Danielle Kang but fired seven birdies in a six-under-par 66 to win by three opinions and not worried about towing the line.”
Tommy Fleetwood’s tie for ninth saw him close the gap slightly to Ryder Cup partner Francesco Molinari at the top of the Race to Dubai, although Molinari still enjoys a lead of more than 1.3million points. strokes. Chun moved into the sole lead with five birdies on the front nine but as Hull reached the turn at 14 under par, the South Korean bogeyed the 10th to drop back to join Hull, 22, as joint leader.
But Hull’s title tilt stagnated with three bogeys as Chun registered another two birdies for victory.