JOHAN EDFORS

It’s hard to feel sorry for someone who’s pocketed over half a million euros in winnings so far this year...

“I’m not complaining, don’t worry.”

Have you spent any of it yet?

“Not on anything for myself. I haven’t had the time. We spend it pretty fast on other things, though. It costs about 2,000 euros a week to be on tour. It’s a lot of money in, but it’s also a lot of money out, so you have to keep on playing well.”

Have you had anybody asking you to lend them any money?

“No I haven’t.” Can you lend me 50 quid? I’ll give it back to you at The Open, promise... “Hahahaha!”

Is there one thing financially that you don’t have to worry so much about now?

“I used to have to check which hotels had the best rate, but now things are a little easier – you can just pick the hotel you think will suit you best. I usually share with another player and if he doesn’t make the cut then I will take the room for the rest of the week myself.”

Do you share with anyone in particular?

“Last year I always shared with Freddy Widmark. This year my coach has been with me and my girlfriend has been with me for a couple of weeks. In Malaysia I shared with Peter Gustafsson. It gets a bit lonely to be on your own all the time. I kind of like being on my own some of the time, but after two weeks it’s nice to have someone to talk to.”

The contents of your kit bag must be a bit grubby after four weeks on the road...

“I was supposed to go home after the Belfry and change my kit but I missed my flight and went straight to Ireland for a company day, then because we played on Monday I flew straight to England for the BMW. I packed for one week and three weeks later I was still in the same clothes. Now everything is pretty dirty.”

It must be worth it after your win at the Belfry?

“It was a great week. I’d only ever seen the Belfry on TV so it was pretty special just playing there. It was really exciting. It has a different feeling, a lot of history to it.”

Winning once must be great, but doing it twice in the same season must be mind-blowing...

“In China it was more a case of relief, the happiness didn’t come until a couple of days later. It just felt I’d proved that I finally have a place here on tour and that I can compete on this level. After winning the British Masters it was just happiness straight away. I was smiling so much it felt like I was going to swallow my own head.

“After the first win I was curious to find out how I would feel afterwards playing the next events. I felt more pressure after winning in China, because I had to prove this wasn’t a once in a lifetime thing. I started thinking about what other people would think of me rather than thinking about my own game. I didn’t play particularly well after that, I missed the cut. I played OK after that, but I wasted a lot of shots until I started playing for myself again.”

You hit the ball with such ferocity...

“That’s my way of playing golf. It’s the big advantage I have in that I hit the ball pretty far off the tee and I hit it pretty straight as well. I have to use that to keep in contention. I can’t be too conservative. I have to be aggressive because that’s my game.

Have you ever had any time in your career when you doubted you’d ever make it on tour?

“Of course. I’ve been a professional since ‘97 and you’ve seen how much money

I made in the first couple of years. I didn’t make any

money at all. “I always

thought I was progressing slowly. After I lost my card in 2004 I really thought I had been prepared after winning

the Challenge Tour Order of Merit, but I soon realised my game was not good enough. I didn’t have some of the shots that are required on the European Tour.”

Such as?

“I couldn’t hit it high enough around the greens. The rough is a lot tougher and my playing strategy was way off. I was much too aggressive, going for the pin every time. The rewards aren’t as high as the risks are so I gave away a lot of shots. My long irons – 2,3,4 and 5 – weren’t good enough either, so I’m still in the process of changing everything, swing-wise and short game-wise. I started about a year and a half ago, so it’s still work in progress.”

How does the pressure of the last day of Qualifying School compare with the last day in a tour event?

“At the Belfry I felt I had everything to win. At Q School I only had everything to lose. It’s a big difference. It gets to everybody, even the most experienced players. I couldn’t relax until I made that final putt and I knew I was in. I was standing there at the last seeing the worst-case scenario, what if I hit it left into the water and have to take a drop...”

So much for professional golfers always having positive swing thoughts...

“I’m just glad I won’t have to do that for another few years at least. It’s a much bigger step than I imagined.”

Have you spared any thoughts for the Ryder Cup?

“If it happens, it happens. That would be the ultimate test. But I’m still a long way away and I probably need another win. It’s not one of my goals for the season.”

What’s your ultimate ambition?

“I really want to play on the PGA Tour in the States. I want to play with the best golfers week in, week out. I will try to qualify in the fall – that’s currently the plan.”

Do you play any other sports apart from golf?

“I like tennis. I play back home whenever I get the chance.”

How many times a week do you get mistaken for Roger Federer?

“It started a couple of years ago and it used to happen quite a lot, but not as much now. Since I’ve won, I haven’t heard it quite so often.”

Have you ever been tempted to cut your hair?

“Well, his hair’s not so long now, so maybe he made the first move. I can see there are some similarities, I have to admit...”

How is your tennis game?

“I’m probably up to Federer’s standard, hahahaha!”

If you could play one round of golf before you die, where would it be?

“Augusta National.”

Have you played there?

“Not yet.”

What’s the best course you’ve played?

“Leopard Creek in South Africa, in the middle of nowhere, but it doesn’t get much better than that.”

Do you fall asleep thinking of golf?

“Sometimes, particularly if you’re in contention. If I can’t get to sleep I’ll go through my round for the next day.”

What music do you listen to?

“I like Creed, I’ve always liked U2 but I like alternative rock. I’ve got an iPod, but it’s gone missing. The last concert I went to was Bruce Springsteen, maybe last summer, or even the summer before that.”

Ever into clubbing?

“I had a few lost years. When I first turned pro I did probably spend too much time in clubs, not with my clubs. I’m not much of a dancer, but I spent a lot of the time at the bar.”

» Johan Edfors Part 3