Swede Wins 2007 Russian Open
Early August the Russian Open Golf Championship 2007 took place at Le Meridien Moscow Country Club. The day before the traditional Pro-Am golf tournament with professionals paired with amateurs was held. The Russian Open is held every year since 1996 on this champion course, which is only one in Russia with 18 holes (par - 72) which makes it one of the hundred of the best in the world and in the top twenty in Europe. This was the second year it is a full stage of European PGA. The prize money has increased from $500,000 in 2005 to $2 million, and the tournament was carried live on Eurosport and Sport channels.
 The special prizes for hole-in-one was doubled compared to 2006. A 7-series BMW was the prize for hole16, while a 50-inch Philips plasma screen was offered for hole 4. A gala reception was held in the Moscow Ritz Carlton on July, 31st. when guests were surprised by the appearance of Hollywood actor Don Johnson, who plays the main character in Miami Vice.
Next day he had an opportunity to show how he has mastered golf. Paired with AutoLocator president Dan Vigdor he failed to get in the top three. "I play about 20 years”, Johnson said. “However it means nothing. It is possible to play 100 years - and still not learn!" 117 players took part in the Russian Open, from 23 countries, including 5 from Russia.
Rain bugged the players from the first day, with play cancelled at three p.m. and the second day rain caused it to be declared a day of rest. On the morning of the third day all golfers finished the second round, having defined the list of finalists. No Russians were among them. Dmitry Vinogradov, who had the best chance to become a finalist, “failed” on last hole, missed out by one point for the cut. "Probably, I simply was not prepared for the impact,” the upset sportsman admitted after game.
The leader of the 2nd round Swedish Per-Ulrik Johansson set a new record for Moscow Country Club of 63 points. However, this result was not included in official records, because as a result of the bad weather part of the tournament was governed by " winter rules ". However Per-Ulrik went on to keep his lead and became the winner of The Russian Open 2007, taking home a cheque for $333 330 dollars. "I won in Scotland twice in very bad weather”, he said. “So, probably, it helps me".
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