Mats Åke Lanner (born 5 March 1961) is a Swedish professional golfer, who formerly played on the European Tour. In 1987, he became the second Swedish player to win a European Tour tournament.
After twice winning the yearly 72-hole tournament Gothenburg Open at his home club, but never been nominated to any national amateur teams, he turned professional after the 1981 season, sponsored by a member of his club.
Lanner's victory at the 1987 Epson Grand Prix of Europe Matchplay Championship at St Pierre Golf & Country Club in Wales, was the second European Tour win by a Swedish player, after the victory by Ove Sellberg the year before, coincidentally at the same tournament, the only match-play tournament on the European Tour schedule these years, beside the invitation tournament World Matchplay Championship.
Lanner was a member of the European Tour until 2001, with just a couple of breaks when he failed to retain his card. He won three times on the main tour and two times on the second tier Challenge Tour. His last win came in 1998, when he was invited to the Madeira Island Open as a former winner of the tournament and went on to win there again.
His best European Tour Order of Merit finish was 19th in 1987. Lanner was close to qualify for one of twelve spots in the European Ryder Cup team, as the first Swedish player ever, that year. The top nine players on the Order of Merit after the German Open would automatically qualify and three players would be picked by the European team captain Tony Jacklin. Prior to the final event, Eamonn Darcy was in the 9th qualifying place with Lanner in 10th. Despite starting with a 62 and leading after the first round, Lanner finished one shot ahead of Darcy in the German Open, but Darcy retained his qualifying place and Jacklin did not choose Lanner among his captain's picks.
In May 1989, Lanner reached a career best 84th on the Official World Golf Ranking.
Lanner was a member of the winning Swedish team at the 1991 Dunhill Cup at the Old Course, St Andrews, Scotland. He holed the winning putt for his team in the final match of the tournament, between Sweden and South Africa, on the first playoff hole in the last game, played between Lanner and Gary Player.
At the 1989 World Cup at Las Brisas Golf Club in Marbella, Spain, the Swedish team of Lanner and Ove Sellberg finished tied 3rd with United States, behind Australia and Spain. Lanner finished 8th individually.
After retiring as a player in 2002, Lanner began a career as a referee on the European Tour.
Lanner's son Tobias (born 1997) has played as an amateur on the Swedish professional mini-tour Future Series.
In 1998, Lanner was awarded honorary member of the PGA of Sweden.
1 | 10 May 1987 | Epson Grand Prix of Europe Matchplay Championship | 1 up | Jeff Hawkes | |
2 | 16 Jan 1994 | Madeira Island Open | −10 (70-67-69=206)* | 2 strokes | Howard Clark, Mathias Grönberg, Peter Hedblom |
3 | 21 Jun 1998 | Madeira Island Open (2) | −11 (70-66-68-73=277) | 1 stroke | Stephen Scahill |
7 | 11 Jun 1989 | Teleannons Grand Prix | −8 (73-68-70=211) | Playoff | Magnus Grankvist, Mikael Karlsson, Ove Sellberg |
8 | 13 Aug 1989 | Gevalia Open | −13 (69-69-70-67=275) | Playoff | Joakim Haeggman |
3 | 18 Aug 1991 | Gefle Open (2) | −19 (64-71-68-66=269) | 1 stroke | Magnus Rosenbäck |
4 | 4 Oct 1998 | Telia Grand Prix (2) | E (71-70-74-69=284) | Playoff | Morten Backhausen, Per Nyman |
Challenge Tour playoff record (3–0)
1 | 1989 | Teleannons Grand Prix | Magnus Grankvist, Mikael Karlsson, Ove Sellberg | Won with eagle on third extra hole |
2 | 1989 | Gevalia Open | Joakim Haeggman | Won with birdie on second extra hole |
3 | 1998 | Telia Grand Prix | Morten Backhausen, Per Nyman | Won with birdie on first extra hole |
1 | 23 Sep 1984 | Stiab Grand Prix | 20 holes | Magnus Persson | |
2 | 30 Sep 1984 | Kullenburg Play-Off | −3 (72-73-69-71=285) | 7 strokes | Anders Forsbrand, Tommy Jansson |
3 | 16 Jun 1985 | Owell Open | −5 (71-70-71-71=283) | 7 strokes | Anders Forsbrand |
4 | 11 Aug 1985 | SI Wang Open | −12 (67-71-70-68=276) | 7 strokes | Nils Lindeblad |
5 | 6 Jul 1986 | SI Trygg-Hansa Open | −7 (71-74-64=209) | 3 strokes | Thomas Engström |
6 | 17 Aug 1986 | Gevalia Open | −11 (72-63-73-69=277) | 6 strokes | Anders Sørensen |
7 | 16 Aug 1987 | Gevalia Open (2) | −8 (72-69-71-68=280) | 3 strokes | Mikael Högberg |
1 | 7 Aug 1983 | Swedish PGA Championship | E (74-75-70-73=292) | 3 strokes | Per-Arne Brostedt |
2 | 15 Sep 1984 | Ingarö Mästermöte | −11 (66-67-70-70=273) | 4 strokes | Freddy Carlson |
The Open Championship | T50 | CUT | CUT | T28 | T51 |
CUT = missed the half-way cut
"T" = tied
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