Mathias Gronberg could have broken a Las Vegas casino with the hottest run of his life.
The Swede won the Melwood Prince George’s County Open at The County Club at Woodmore on Sunday after playing most of the 72-hole tournament in 36 hours. He shot virtual twin doubleheaders on consecutive days after rain limited him to 11 holes on Thursday and none on Friday. The overtime didn’t bother Gronberg though, finishing 19-under to win by six strokes.
“When you’re playing good you want to keep on playing. I don’t feel that tired after playing this kind of golf,” he said. “I remember when I was 10 [years old] playing 72 holes in one day — crazy, Swedish golf.”
It was Gronberg’s first victory since 2003 when winning the Italian Open that included receiving his weight in Parmesan cheese. While dairy products weren’t included in his $121,500 paycheck on Sunday, it was Gronberg’s second double-digit score this season after finishing 11th in the Texas Open on May 17.
Talk about marathons. Gronberg spent nearly 10 hours on the course on Sunday. But then, when your second career highlight on the PGA Tour is listed as a cut, you don’t mind hanging around the course.
It was easy for Gronberg to joke given the runaway victory. Barring a collapse, he was assured victory with half of the final round remaining. Yet, Gronberg found the motivation to shoot the day’s best round at 65 after managing a 68, 69 and 67 over the first three rounds respectively.
“You need 36 holes to play good and squeeze by,” Gronberg said. “I got very hot, especially on the second round.”
The hunger remains despite a once promising career that never quite materialized. Gronberg, 39, turned pro at 18 after enrolling in the Swedish golf academy three years earlier. His first season included one victory and eight top-10 finishes.
The first European Tour victory came in 1995, the second three years later by 10 strokes. Gronberg won in 2000 and 2003 when also earning his PGA Tour card after failing Qualifying School six straight times. Yet, he wasn’t a Tour regular until 2006.
Gronberg’s double-rounds don’t end, though. He has another 36 holes on Monday in Westchester, N.Y. in the U.S. Open qualifier before heading to Memphis for the St. Jude Classic.
“Hopefully, I’ll feel just as good and happy as today,” he said.
Rick Snider has covered local sports since 1978. Read more at TheRickSniderReport.com or
e-mail [email protected].
