Smilla Tarning Soenderby won the Women’s Irish Open on Sunday with a masterful final-round 62, but it’s an unfortunate accident involving one of her competitors that’s making headlines in the wake of the tournament.
Soenderby began the final round in a tie for 21st place, nine shots off the lead, but was the leader in the clubhouse at 16-under after her 10-under round. Anne Van Dam and Lisa Petterson later tied Soenderby’s lead, setting up a sudden-death playoff to decide the tournament.
But as Van Dam was being driven in a cart back to the 18th tee for the start of the playoff, her bag was snagged on a rope and yanked off the back of the cart. The rope snapped the head of her driver clean off, leaving Van Dam without the biggest club in her bag for the playoff.
Omg. Just brutal.
— Monday Q Info (@acaseofthegolf1) September 3, 2023
Feel terrible for the official also. I’m sure she feels horrible. Tough situation for everyone.
pic.twitter.com/kEBeLJwSI0
“You had one freaking job,” a frustrated Van Dam told the person driving the cart after the damage was discovered (even though it was Van Dam who let go of the rope before the cart had fully cleared it).
Even without her driver, Van Dam was able to reach the green in two on the par-5 playoff hole, so the broken club didn’t harm her too much. But Soenderby was simply too good on Sunday to be beaten. She also reached the green in two and sunk her short eagle putt to win the tournament while Van Dam’s eagle attempt went begging.
