Florian Fritsch (born 29 October 1985) is a German professional golfer who currently plays on the European Tour.
Career Fritsch was born in Munich, Germany, and attended the University of South Carolina in the United States, graduating in 2008. He turned professional in early 2009, and almost became the third golfer, after countryman Martin Kaymer, and Italian Edoardo Molinari, ever to win on their Challenge Tour début, when he lost to Lee S. James in a playoff for the Allianz Open Côtes d'Armor Bretagne.
In 2010, he quit professional golf because of a fear of flying that developed through the years after a flight where he experienced huge clear-air turbulences.Player blog: Florian Fritsch, European Tour, 19 October 2016 After a few months he took up his professional career again. He only played in tournaments he could reach by car or by train. Nevertheless he reached the final qualifying stage of the European Tour and earned his card for the 2011 season.
After finishing 125th on the 2015 Race to Dubai and missing the full-card for the 2016 season, in 2016 he finished 101st thanks to his T7 placements in the Omega European Masters, at the Porsche European Open and at the Alfred Dunhill Links Championship. He secured his full-card for 2017 playing just 12 tournaments, due to his flying fears and his low-ranking spot in 2016.
Professional wins (9) Pro Golf Tour wins (6) No. DateTournamentWinning scoreMargin ofvictoryRunner(s)-up17 May 2009Gut Winterbrock Classic−11 (72-65-68=205)Playoff Max Kramer219 May 2010Heidelberg Lobenfeld Classic−9 (69-67-68=204)6 strokes Stephan Gross, Max Kramer39 May 2013GreenEagle Classic−3 (70-76-70=216)3 strokes Dennis Küpper, Berni Reiter47 Jun 2013Land Fleesensee Classic−17 (68-66-65=199)1 stroke Fernand Osther524 Jul 2013Lotos Polish Open−9 (69-70-68=207)Playoff Anton Kirstein63 Sep 2013Preis des Hardenberg GolfResort−5 (69-72-70=211)2 strokes Christopher Mivis, Marcel Schneider
Nordic Golf League wins (1) No. DateTournamentWinning scoreMargin ofvictoryRunner-up116 Feb 2017Mediter Real Estate Masters−17 (69-60-66=195)7 strokes Kristoffer Reitan (a)
Hi5 Pro Tour wins (1) No. DateTournamentWinning scoreMargin ofvictoryRunners-up110 Feb 2011El Valle Open−11 (69-71-62=202)1 stroke Jonathan Caldwell, Miguel Ángel Martín
Other wins (1) No. DateTournamentWinning scoreMargin ofvictoryRunner-up11 Aug 2013HDI Gerling German PGA Championship−15 (64-70-72-67=273)2 strokes Marcel Schneider
Playoff record Challenge Tour playoff record (0–3) No.YearTournamentOpponentResult12009Allianz Open Côtes d'Armor Bretagne Lee S. JamesLost to birdie on first extra hole22014Belgian Challenge Open William HarroldLost to par on first extra hole32014EMC Golf Challenge Open Ricardo GouveiaLost to birdie on third extra hole
Team appearances Amateur European Boys' Team Championship (representing Germany): 2003 European Youths' Team Championship (representing Germany): 2004, 2006 Eisenhower Trophy (representing Germany): 2004, 2006 European Amateur Team Championship (representing Germany): 2005, 2007, 2008
See also 2010 European Tour Qualifying School graduates 2014 Challenge Tour graduates
References
External links
Florian Fritsch at the University of South Carolina Gamecocks official site