Playing a European Tour event on home soil is special enough for golfers, but for Søren Kjeldsen this week’s Made in Denmark will be even sweeter given that it marks his 501st appearance.
The 40 year old brought up 500 European Tour events at the US PGA Championship last week, and back in his native Denmark he was presented with a gift by new European Tour Chief Executive Keith Pelley in recognition of impressive achievement.
Not only is Kjeldsen the first Dane to reach the milestone, he has taken just 18 years and 189 days to do so – which is second only to Peter Baker, who took 18 years and 29 days.
Having made the cut in 358 of his 500 events, the Fredensborg resident has amassed €11,351,076 in prize money, with four victories and a total of 56 top ten finishes.
“My first tournament was the South African Open in 1998 at Durban Country Club,” said Kjeldsen, who turned professional in 1995. “I made the cut on the number – just to make the cut was a huge achievement. And here we are 18 years later – amazing! It goes very quickly.
“Keeping my card the first year was huge. I finished 115th which was the last spot, and the next year I qualified for the Volvo Masters – the final tournament for the top 60 in the Order of Merit. That was massive and after that I really felt like I really belonged at that level.
“The main feeling is that I’m very proud to have hung in there so long.
Søren Kjeldsen
"Five hundred tournaments is a lot of tournaments – a lot of travelling, walking, hitting shots. It’s been fantastic and I’m still going strong. It’s been incredible.”
Kjeldsen suffered something of a drop in form in 2014, finishing 103rd in The Race to Dubai with just one top ten finish all season, but he bounced back in spectacular fashion in May, winning the star-studded Dubai Duty Free Irish Open Hosted by the Rory Foundation.
“Winning the Irish Open was a big turning point,” he continued. “The main struggle had been with my driver, but on the back nine in Ireland I drove it as well as I’ve ever done. It shows that you can have struggles but come back stronger than ever.
“Last year was the first time I’d been fighting for my card since that first season. There have been so many emotions, so many ups and downs, and I’m still here. Sometimes you get a few golfing scars and you wonder if you can get back to simply seeing a shot and hitting it, after hitting so many bad shots.”
With nearly a million euros banked already this year and a recent tied 12th place finish at the WGC-Bridgestone Invitational, Kjeldsen is focusing more on the next 500 events rather than hanging up his clubs.
“I definitely don’t feel like I’m ready to pack it in, and this year I think I’ve showed that I’m still developing and still improving,” he said.
“You look at guys like Miguel and some guys do play their best after 40. Vijay Singh as well. Guys are staying fitter and playing better for longer. I’d like to be like those guys.”
