Sebastian Soderberg capped an incredible start to his season by earning a place in his maiden Major Championship after coming through a play-off to claim the final US Open Championship spot at International Sectional Qualifying at Walton Heath.
The Swede signalled his intent to make 2016 a definitive year by winning the Challenge Tour’s season-opener, the Barclays Kenya Open, and a top three finish at the Turkish Airlines Challenge propelled him into third place in the Road to Oman Rankings.
His season has gone to even greater heights now, though, when, after playing in the D+D REAL Czech Challenge, the 25 year old flew to England for a 36-hole shoot-out for 13 places at Oakmont for next month’s US Open.
His two under par total in blustery conditions was not quite good enough to avoid the drama of a five-man play-off, where he ultimately ended up in a head-to-head with Jeev Milka Singh for the last remaining spot.
Both men missed putts to win, Singh on the third play-off hole and Soderberg on the fourth, but the Swede then held his nerve for birdie from 25 feet and a first taste of Major Championship golf.
“It feels pretty amazing,” he said. “Playing in the Majors has always been a lifelong dream and playing in my first already is just going to be unreal.
“I never would have expected this at the start of the season, and this was actually a late add-on because I was exempt into it and I just thought it was pretty good odds – two good rounds and you have a decent chance, but I didn’t expect this.
“The first hole I had the pressure on me right away when I had the longest putt for birdie but I made a really good putt, then when it was just me and Jeev I got away with a bad tee shot.
“I guess the nerves got the best of me on the fourth hole. I gave myself a really good chance and was so close but I couldn’t quite finish it, so it felt amazing to sink that putt on the last.
“It’s a lifelong dream to play a Major Championship and I can’t even describe how pumped I am for that, playing with the best in one of the biggest tournaments in the world is going to be incredible.
“It’s one of the toughest courses in the world – you’ve got to hit it straight so I might have to work a bit on my tee game before I head to Oakmont!”
Though focus will now inevitably be drawn towards his imminent week in America, Soderberg is adamant that his sole goal for the year is to finish inside the top 15 of the Road to Oman Rankings and thus earn a European Tour card for next season.
This week he will get a taste of life in the Race to Dubai as he returns to his home country to tee it up at the Nordea Masters, but he is keen not to be distracted from the Challenge Tour, especially after such a strong start to the year.
“I’m playing the Nordea Masters this week and I was planning on playing the KPMG Trophy but we’ll see how it pans out,” he said. “I don’t want to miss too much of the Challenge Tour schedule so I’ll talk it through with my team and we’ll see, but for now the next few weeks will be based around preparing for the US Open, of course.
“The main goal for this year is still that top 15, and that’s something you’ve got to watch when you’re starting off that well, not to get too comfortable, which I felt I almost did in the last few events where I haven’t played too well.
“It still feels like there’s a long way to go, there are a lot of events left, and I know that a few good tournaments and I’ll be there so I’ve just got to stay patient and focus on the right things for the rest of the season.
“It’s exciting to be playing in my home event, and on the European Tour, it’s going to be a good week especially after this. It’s been a busy 24 hours or so, from the Czech Republic to England to Sweden, but that’s the life of a golfer, and it’s not a bad one is it?”
