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 | | | | | | Quick Facts | | | Birthdate: 29 April 1972 | | Birthplace: Gothenburg, Sweden | | | Age: 30 Ht: 5ft 11in (180cm) Wt: 12st 9lb (80kg) | | | Home: Monaco | | | Country: Sweden | | | Turned Professional: 1992 (+2) | | | |
| Ryder Cup | | | Rookie | | European Tour Victories | | |
(1) 2000 Madeira Island Open
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The Ryder Cup has a habit of throwing up a surprise package and this year that could well be Niclas Fasth, one of three Swedes in the European team.
Fasth produced the performance of a lifetime in the 130th Open Championship at Royal Lytham & St Annes to secure a berth in Sam Torrance's team. Under the full glare of the world's spotlight, the 29 year old displayed a cool nerve to shoot a closing round of 67 to finish second behind David Duval and climb to sixth in the Ryder Cup points list. It was Fasth's first experience of playing in a Major Championship and he rose to the occasion magnificently. The confidence and determination he showed that week underlined his Ryder Cup credentials.
Fasth's runner-up finish at Royal Lytham & St Annes was the culmination of an excellent spell of form on The European Tour which saw him tied for second in the Murphy's Irish Open and tied for 14th in The Scottish Open at Loch Lomond. He also recorded top ten finishes in the Madeira Island Open, Algarve Portuguese Open and Victor Chandler British Masters.
Fasth has always displayed a strong determination to succeed which is sure to stand him in good stead at The De Vere Belfry. He has performed under the most intense pressure to secure his European Tour card on two occasions, winning the European Tour Qualifying School Finals in 1996 and then coming a close second in 1999. Such is the pressure at the Qualifying School Finals, where 180 golfers are fighting for their livelihoods, that it has been said that every shot feels like the opening drive in the Open Championship. The fact that Fasth has been first and second in his two visits to southern Spain show he thrives under pressure.
He is also extremely confident, another good trait to take into the Ryder Cup. When he led the Madeira Island Open in 2000 after an opening round of 66 he stated: "I will win. It might not be this week, but I will win." That confidence stayed with him all week as he held his place at the top of the leaderboard to claim his maiden European Tour title.
Fasth joins compatriots Pierre Fulke and Parnevik in the European Team, the most Swedish players ever to be represented in the Ryder Cup.
When Fasth's names joined those certain to qualify for the team, Europe's captain Sam Torrance gave him a ringing recommendation, literally.
"I called Niclas (after the Open) and left a message on his answerphone to say, 'Well done, I'll see you in September.' He played fantasically well and is a welcome addition to the side. The way he kept calm on that final day at Lytham showed exactly what will be needed at The De Vere Belfry."
Background
Came close to becoming the first player to win the European Tour Qualifying School Finals twice. In 1996, he lost his card by one place and a small matter of € 1,120 (£800), but reclaimed his card by taking first place at San Roque. Three years on, he was back on the Costa del Sol with a one shot lead going into the last day, but finished second to Alastair Forsyth. A three-time winner on the Challenge Tour in 1993, he finished 17th to gain card in US Tour School in 1997. Attempted to play in America and Europe in 1998 and admitted it was 'definitely a mistake - I spent all my time on a plane!' Decision to re-focus totally on Europe paid off with victory in Madeira Island Open in 2000. Shot to fame by finishing second to David Duval in the 130th Open Championship at Royal Lytham & St Annes. It was the first time he had played in a Major Championship after five failed attempts to qualify for the Open and he performed magnificently to earn a place in the European Ryder Cup team. Second place in two major tournaments, the Dubai Desert Classic and Murphy's Irish Open prove that form has remained with Niclas heading into the 34th Ryder Cup.
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| W - L - T | Points | | 0 - 2 - 1 | .5 |
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Niclas Fasth
