In the shadow of Ludvig Åberg and Alex Norén, Joakim Lagergren has achieved unexpected success this season. The entire trio will be present this week when the DP World Tour playoffs begin in Abu Dhabi – and for Lagergren, there is extra money in the pot.
The Stockholmer has one of the ten PGA Tour cards at stake in this year's "Race to Dubai" within reach.
But if the US is to become Lagergren's main workplace next year, he will have to climb a couple of places in the rankings. This requires at least a top finish in one of the two remaining competitions.
"It feels crucial to be over there (in the USA) to achieve my dreams," he says in an interview with WTV.
My dream is to play a Ryder Cup. If you look at the selection process this year for the European team, it looks like it's pretty crucial that you need to play over there to get into a Ryder Cup team.
Playoff against McIlroy
Joakim Lagergren has achieved two second places this season. First in the KLM Open in the Netherlands and then in the Irish Open, where he was narrowly defeated by Rory McIlroy himself, who finished with an eagle to force a playoff against the Swede.
This year's success comes after several years of declining form. Lagergren took her only victory to date in Sicily in 2018, but was forced to play on the Challenge Tour last year after losing her playing rights on the DP World Tour.
It was a real blow last year and a "wake-up call" not to take your own ability for granted, Lagergren tells WTV.
Troubled by the back
In parallel with the successes – Lagergren has played for around 13.5 million kronor this year – the blue and yellow star is struggling with back problems that make themselves felt both on the golf course and in everyday life.
If I hadn't played golf, I wouldn't have had this much back pain. It's quite a lot of strain on the body and we do what we can to make it stronger, straighter, better – and to cope with this strain.
This week's competition in Abu Dhabi is played Thursday-Sunday.
Carl Goransson/TT
Fact: The hunt for the PGA Tour card
TT
The top ten players in the DP World Tour's "Race to Dubai", who do not already have playing rights on the PGA Tour, will be rewarded with a PGA Tour card for next season.
Joakim Lagergren is twelfth in the ranking of players fighting for the cards ahead of the two playoff competitions.
Up to Englishman Jordan Smith – who currently has the tenth card – the difference is 348 points.
A win in this week's race in Abu Dhabi will earn 1,500 points. To earn more than 348 points, a fifth-place finish is required.
Victory in next week's finale in Dubai will earn 2,000 points. To earn more than 348 points there, a seventh-place finish is required.
Exactly what Lagergren needs to perform to climb into the top ten depends on what his competitors are performing at the same time.
