The Russian Open Golf Championship 2007
European PGA Tour

From 2nd to 5th of August in The Le Meridien Moscow Country Club situated near Moscow The Russian Open Golf Championship 2007 took place. Traditionally one day before the golf tournament the Pro-Am tournament between professionals and amateurs took place.

Annually the Russian Open is held on the golf course of the Le Meridien Moscow Country Club an affiliate of GlavUpDK an entity under the Russian Ministry of Foreign Affairs (Main Administration for Service to the Diplomatic Corps), which currently is the only 18 holes (pairs - 72) championship course in Russia.  This golf course enters into the one hundred of the best golf courses in the world and in the twenty of the best in Europe.

The Russian Open has been held since 1996. This is the second year that it is recognized to be a full PGA European Tour event. The Russian Open prize-winning fund has grown from $500 000 in 2005 to $2 000 000 in 2007.  This year the Russian Open was broadcasted live in Russia on TV channels “Eurosport” and "Sport".

In comparison to last year, the number of special prizes for a hole-in-one hit (a single hit resulting with a direct entrance into the hole) was doubled this year. The partners of the tournament BMW and Philips were giving away prizes on two different holes; a 7-th series BMW would be awarded for the hole-in-one hit on hole № 16 and a 50-inch Philips plasma screen on hole № 4. The winners of the Pro-Am tournament Philips awarded with a “Solarium Innergize.” The other prizes received by the members of the Imperial Collection team were provided by AutoLocator. We shall note, that the other companies supporting  the tournament this year were Rolex, Lipton and Visa, and the number of first time partners of the tournament included the companies "Inteco", “Sobin Bank”, “Don Story”, “Arkhiz’ and Stella Artrois.

The Russian Open tournament is famous for its evening program. The first spectacular event was the gala-reception of the Pro-Am tournament which took place in Moscow at the “The Ritz Carlton” hotel on July, 31st. Visitors of this privileged reception, became participants of forthcoming tournament, managers of the large companies and representatives of the diplomatic corps. A surprise for the gathered became the appearance of the Hollywood actor Don Johnson known for his performances in "Police of Miami" and “Nash Bridges”. The next day after the event on August 1st, he showed his golf skills during the Pro-Am tournament.

During the Pro-Am tournament Don Johnson played for the team AutoLocator as did its president Dan Vigdor. Their team however did not become one of the 3 finalists.  

"I play for about 20 years,” - the actor stated after the event – “however it means nothing. It is possible to play 100 years - and don’t learn!"

As a thank you for his participation the Hollywood star did receive a scarlet pendant. As for the winners of the tournament – the Imperial Collection team amongst which participated - the Soviet and Russian bandy champion Renat Shamsutov, were handed over a sun deck from Phillips, elite security-search system from AutoLocator and the certificate for a weekend stay for two in the Moscow Country Club hotel.

The next day the first round of The Russian Open 2007 in which have taken part 117 golf players from 23 countries, including 5 Russians has begun. However to pass a full circle (18 holes) all sportsmen were not in time because of the rain. The game was officially stops at 3 o'clock and transferred in the morning the next day. However the next day competitions were stopped again, and August 3rd became the day of rest for the players.

Moving around the territory of the Moscow Country Club under Philips umbrellas, sportsmen had the chance to test the new Philips equipment for the house of Philips Energize. In the neighborhood all interested people tasted the new collection of Lipton teas and strong drinks of the "Imperial collection". For those who prefer adrenaline, company BMW offered test drive cars. The trainers of the golf-clinic, despite of a rain, always had a number of wishers who wanted to receive a first time golf lesson. In the evening the cheerful Cut-Party took place - this party traditionally celebrates the players who have passed the elimination round that day. This year, due to bad weather conditions the selection of finalists did not take place on time and was postponed till the next day.

"There is never a tournament without rain in Moscow anymore”, - the Russian expert on golf, assistant to the editor of the TV-channel Russian Today and the chief-editor of magazine "Golf-digest" Alexey Nikolov commented. – “Probably, this is our trade mark now."  

Two players were forced to retrieve themselves from the game: an Englishman Lee James because of his wrist trauma and Scot David Drisdejl because his neck trauma.

In the morning of the third day all golf players finished the second round and the list of finalists was decided. Unfortunately, no Russian player’s name appeared on that list. For them the game started unlucky from the first round. Dmitry Vinogradov had the greatest chances to pass for the finalist round, but failed on last hole and did not have enough points to pass the cut.

"Probably, I was simply not prepared for the impact,” - the upset sportsman admitted after the game. “You start to get nervous playing amongst very good players. You just loose your confidence. Its just the way its is. "

The leader of The Russian Open Golf Championship 2007 became a Swedish professional Per-Ulrik Johansson. Despite the rain, he set up a new record score in the Moscow Country Club - 63 points. However, this result did not count. Due to the bad weather a part of the tournament was played by "winter rules", and in that case official records are not fixed. However, the big leap from his competitors has helped Per-Ulrik keep his leading position in the subsequent rounds. As a result he became the winner of The Russian Open Golf Championship 2007 and the owner of a check for 333 330 dollars.

"I won in Scotland twice in very bad weather conditions,” - the winner has told us. “So, probably, the bad weather helps me".

            The second place with the result 271 (-17) was earned by the best golf player of the Netherlands Robert-Jean Derksen. He has received a check for 222 220 dollars. The bronze prize-winner became Alan McLean, whose game resulted in 272 points (-16). His prize fund was 125 200 dollars. Also, all prize-winners received a Russian nested doll and a "Faberge Egg" from the "Imperial Collection." Johansson also received a sun deck from Philips. The best Russian player of tournament Dmitry Vinogradov was handed an incentive prize from GlavUpDK an entity under the Russian Ministry of Foreign Affairs - a coupon to buy equipment for a future victory.