Jarmo Sakari Sandelin (born 10 May 1967) is a Swedish professional golfer who plays on the European Senior Tour. He had five European Tour wins and played in the 1999 Ryder Cup.
Early life Sandelin was born in Imatra, Finland, but grew up in Sweden and became a Swedish citizen.
Professional career Sandelin turned professional in 1987 and despite several visits to qualifying school, did not win a place on the European Tour until 1995 when he graduated from the second tier Challenge Tour by finishing in 9th place on the end of season rankings in 1994. He won the Turespana Open De Canaria during his début season as he finished in 21st place on the Order of Merit and was named the Sir Henry Cotton Rookie of the Year.
In 1996, Sandelin played on the United States–based PGA Tour, but made just one cut from 14 tournament starts during the season. He returned to Europe towards the end of the year with immediate success, winning the Madeira Island Open. He has won a total of five tournaments on the European Tour and his best season was 1999, when he won the Spanish and German Opens and finished 9th on the Order of Merit. He also made his only Ryder Cup appearance that year, but was only selected to play in the singles and lost his match against Phil Mickelson 5 and 3.
Sandelin suffered a loss of form after the turn of the century which culminated in a return to qualifying school in 2005. Having employed a coach for the first time in his career, he regained his European Tour card immediately. He managed to maintain his playing status another three years, although by small margins. In 2007 he edged out Lee Slattery for the last automatic card for 2008 by just €77. He entered the European Tour Qualifying School totally 12 times.
In May 2017, Sandelin became eligible for the European Senior Tour, from 2018 known as the Staysure Tour. The first season he played 13 tournaments, had seven top-10s, with a best tied-4th finish at the Farmfoods European Senior Masters and finished 17th on the 2017 European Senior Tour Order-of-Merit rankings. In 2018 Sandelin was runner-up in the Swiss Seniors Open and he had his first win on the senior tour in the final event of the 2019 season, the MCB Tour Championship – Mauritius, 18 years after his last European Tour win.
In 2001, he was awarded honorary member of the PGA of Sweden.
1997 Lancome Trophy The European Tour tournament Lancome Trophy at Golf de Saint-Nom-la-Bretèche, 30 km west of Paris, France in September 1997, was won by Mark O'Meara, one stroke ahead of Sandelin. A television viewer in Sweden noted that, on the 15th green in the final round, O'Meara, facing a two and a half foot putt, had replaced his ball half an inch closer to the hole than had been indicated by his marker. Sandelin wrote to O'Meara in March 1998, sent a video recording of the incident and asked for an explanation. O'Meara insisted he had not intended to gain any advantage and sought advice from the PGA and European Tours, who informed him that the tournament was over and the result stood. O'Meara admitted in April 1998, he may, without intention, have broken the rules of golf on his way to winning the 1997 Lancome Trophy.
Professional wins (11) European Tour wins (5) No.DateTournamentWinning scoreMargin ofvictoryRunner(s)-up112 Feb 1995Turespaña Open De Canaria−6 (74-72-66-70=282)1 stroke Seve Ballesteros, Paul Eales231 Mar 1996Madeira Island Open−9 (72-67-71-69=279)1 stroke Paul Affleck325 Apr 1999Peugeot Open de España−21 (66-66-66-69=267)4 strokes Ignacio Garrido, Miguel Ángel Jiménez, Paul McGinley413 Jun 1999German Open−14 (69-64-73-68=274)Playoff Retief Goosen525 Nov 2001(2002 season)BMW Asian Open1−10 (72-66-72-68=278)1 stroke José María Olazábal, Thongchai Jaidee 1Co-sanctioned by the Asian PGA Tour
European Tour playoff record (1–0) No.YearTournamentOpponentResult11999German Open Retief GoosenWon with par on first extra hole
Challenge Tour wins (2) No.DateTournamentWinning scoreMargin ofvictoryRunner-up129 Aug 1993Finnish PGA ChampionshipE (71-74-71=216)2 strokes Jouni Vilmunen211 Sep 1994Challenge Novotel−10 (70-69-73-66=278)1 stroke Fredrik Andersson
Challenge Tour playoff record (0–2) No.YearTournamentOpponentResult11991Volvo Finnish Open Fredrik LarssonLost to birdie on fifth extra hole21994Stockley Park Challenge Ricky WillisonLost to birdie on first extra hole
Other wins (2) No.DateTournamentWinning scoreMargin ofvictoryRunners-up118 Oct 1998Open Novotel Perrier(with Olle Karlsson)−26 (62-68-63-136=329)3 strokes Richard Boxall and Derrick Cooper28 Aug 2019Farmfoods British Par 3 Championship−8 (53-47=100)1 stroke Paul Lawrie, Steven Tiley
European Senior Tour wins (2) Legend Tour Championships (1) Other European Senior Tour (1) No.DateTournamentWinning scoreMargin ofvictoryRunner-up115 Dec 2019MCB Tour Championship (Mauritius)−12 (69-70-65=204)3 strokes James Kingston214 Jul 2024Swiss Seniors Open−10 (69-64-67=200)1 stroke Bradley Dredge
Results in major championships Tournament1995199619971998199920002001U.S. OpenCUTWDThe Open ChampionshipT7965T31PGA ChampionshipCUTT24 Note: Sandelin never played in the Masters Tournament.
CUT = missed the half-way cut WD = withdrew "T" = tied
Results in World Golf Championships Tournament1999Match PlayChampionshipT20InvitationalT30
"T" = Tied
Results in senior major championships Results not in chronological order Tournament2017201820192020202120222023202420252026Senior PGA ChampionshipCUTT69CUTNTCUTCUTThe TraditionNTU.S. Senior Open55NTSenior Players ChampionshipSenior British Open ChampionshipT7011T29NTT28CUTT25CUTCUTCUT
CUT = missed the halfway cut "T" indicates a tie for a place NT = no tournament due to COVID-19 pandemic
Team appearances Alfred Dunhill Cup (representing Sweden): 1995, 1996, 1999 World Cup (representing Sweden): 1995, 1996, 1999 Ryder Cup (representing Europe): 1999 Seve Trophy (representing Continental Europe): 2000 (winners)
See also 1995 PGA Tour Qualifying School graduates 2005 European Tour Qualifying School graduates 2009 European Tour Qualifying School graduates
References
External links Official blog