European Tour: The KLM (Dutch) Open

Hi folks,

Kinda missed the weekly topics to insert my comments, so here's a try for this week's Dutch Open (my home tournament).

1) The tournament is back on the Kennemer Golf & Country Club. Last time round was in 2009, won by Simon Dyson (his second of three Dutch Opens). Dyson won another here in '06, the other recent winners on the Kennemer being Ross Fisher ('07) and Darren Clarke ('08). Other winners include Olazabal ('89) and the late Ballesteros ('76), Seve's first pro tournament win.

2) The course: an old course by Dutch standards, built by the famous Harry Colt (Muirfield, Wentworth, Sunningdale New Course, and Pine Valley). Pretty short (only 6626 yards / 6057 meters with par at 70) but certainly not easy. The course should soften up this week as there has been almost continuous rain since Sunday right up to the start Thursday morning, although the rough will be even more punishing due to the amount of water this week.

3) The field: a good ET field (taking into account that almost all the top ET players are trying their luck in the PGA tour playoffs) but not as great as two years ago. Should be worth around 30 OWGR points (in fact, one of not that many events that are not subsidized this year...). The Mechanic, PH, Manassero, Ross Fisher, Simon Dyson, Alvaro Quiros, Mikko Ilonen, Shane Lowry, Nicholas Colsaerts, Alex Noren, Scott Jamieson, Soren Kjeldsen, and Thorbjorn Olesen are all playing. Peter Hanson is not defending his title due to his continuing back problem. As for the home contingent: Joost Luiten stands out. He needs a good result to qualify for the Seve Trophy and approach the top 50 for the first time in his career, a win could elevate him right up to #55 according to my calculations.

4) Finally, the KLM Open offers the lesser gods one of the last remaining tournaments to secure entry into the Final Series / Dubai World Championship (PD at # 60) or even secure their 2014 card. R2D top 115 is requiredl; Alvaro Quiros is right down there at #110 (although I believe his Dubai win in 11 has got his card covered for another year). Oliver Fisher (118) needing a good result as well.

Cheerio, TMO

Cheers TMO.
Where is Prince Dracula?

John Cregan
If I am not mistaken, he has gone AWOL a couple of months ago (although he did mention that he did not have the time to write his usual pieces).

themightyone wrote:John Cregan
If I am not mistaken, he has gone AWOL a couple of months ago (although he did mention that he did not have the time to write his usual pieces).

Cheers fior keeping the show on the road.....

John, any thoughts on the KLM Open (perhaps you would like to shed some light on Padraig's chances...)?

Them - Nice write up and thanks for all the insights.

Point of clarification: While Colt had some influence at Pine Valley (along with a few others, perhaps most notably William Flynn), credit for that course design goes primarily to George Crump.

Thanks mighty!
Hope you get your appropriate reward with a Luiten win.

Always love watching this event at Kennemer, the top class courses of Holland, Belgium and Northern France don't get a good enough airing from the E.T., a collection of hidden gem beauties.

Meanwhile, I see a couple of noteworthy entries in the Ukraine Challenger event:
Kafelnikov, who we're used to seeing haplessly hack his way around.

And a certain "Andriy Shevchenko" - surely not THAT Shevchenko?

This place could be ideal for Manassero............

Kwini,
Last time I saw Kafelnikov in action he did a lot better than his previous efforts (although still somewhere around #156).

As for hidden gems: if you ever visit The Netherlands, make sure to play De Pan. Best course in the country. I am lucky enough to play there again this Friday with a couple of mates, one of whom is a member.

Could well be that Shevchenko. He is off scratch I believe and there could be some truth to the rumours that he was more interested in golf whilst at Chelsea than playing football. Shame as I always thought he was a great player at Milan.

Saw a snipet of The Westwood Cup, which was current and ex footballers from England vs Europe or ROTW, cant remember which, playing a RC style competition in Vegas. Sheva looked handy to be fair but wont be in same league as the Challenge Tour guys I fancy.

Looking forward to the ET ramping up as we get closer to Dubai. Good to see stars like Colsaerts and Olesen there this week. Up to guys like that to take advantage of the fact the 'top' Euro guys are playing in the US.

It is that Shevchenko according to the BBC: http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/24028801 update at 1625

Cheers TMO. Appreciated.

Think Shevchenko uses to play in The Dunhill Links as well.

Surprised then, that Ruud Gullit is not playing this week? (Think he's also a Dunhill links regular......)

Gullit would make sense in the Dutch Open, but I don't think they are letting in "famous amateurs". We simply have too many (Cruyff, Van Basten, Gullit to ñame but a few).

1GrumpyGolfer wrote:It is that Shevchenko according to the BBC: http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/24028801 update at 1625

So the beeb are still using us for a source!

Walker Cupper Kevin Phelan off to a promising start (two under after six) in his first event as a Pro.

No-one tearing it up in the early going, four under leading with all the morning "wave" still on the course.

Edit: Belgium's Thomas Pieters, who had such a successful Collegiate career in the U.S., is also under par early in his round. Someone to rival "Muscles from Brussels" (or as he's playing so far today, Mussels from Brussels)?

What is more surprising about Robert Allenby's participation in this week's KLM Open?
1).That he's playing.
or:
2).That his world ranking has slumped to #505.

"donny150fromthepin" or whatever he called himself must be beside himself in an Irish bookies' somewhere.

Under par so far today though, so maybe better days are coming?

That is surprising kwin, always thought he was class, has he been injured or something?

Hi gw,
Don't think he's had any serious injury issues - he's certainly played most opportunities. Just his ball-striking which used to be so superb has declined almost to the level of his chipping and putting.
Would have thought he'll rebpound, but who knows?

And then there's Padraig Harrington, having trouble keeping SEVENs off his card these days.

I remember a few years ago (maybe '09 or '10) you couldnt keep Allenby off the leaderboards! He was a sound e/w most weeks.

Maybe he's playing in europe now because he's fallen out with everyone else?

McGrane taking advatange of the shortish course.

Lairdy, Allenby's playing in Europe most likely because he's not eligible for anything over here! Except the web.com Tour Finals but that's redundant as he's already assured of his card next year on a "career money" exemption.
I've followed him quite a bit, very enjoyable and he used to hit everything straight and long. Putting and chipping always terribilis though.

Allenby looks like he ironed his trousers with lard. Shiny strides not exactly high fashion. Are they?

The Mechanic has done it again. Hard to think that anyone will be able to overtake him, he always seems like a bus driver on the Monaco F1 circuit: impossible to pass

Very poor from Colsaerts (w/d), Olesen and Harrington - all with much to do if they want to be in the Top Fifty at year's end.

Pleased to see Dyson trying to hoover down The Mechanic - and Luiten apparently playing well Joost now.

Luiten with a great opportunity to be the Dutch Master on Sunday.
Should be a great atmosphere with Luiten playing with Jimenez on Sunday.
3-time winner Dyson not far behind.

Go go Joost! Around #51 with a win and assured of a Seve trophy spot if he wins (and the final series as well, I guess)

Two-man race right now.

Congrats Joost and Daan... Orange day today

Great win from Luiten, with a little help from miguel. 11th on the r2d, top 50 within reach, seve trophy, final series, this is another big step for him

Daan and Joost will move up the Ryder Cup World Points qualie places! Shame three of their compadres missed the cut "on the number".

And Miguel should just about have wrapped up his Masters invitation - most likely the only competitive 50-something out there other than Couples.

£10  eachway on the the Joost nets another £135 to go along with the £335 I picked up on Stenson 2 weeks ago. Happy days indeed!!

A quick OWGR update for the KLM Open.  The event came in as a legit 24 level with 93 ERV (24 = 91-105 ERV)

Winner Joost Luiten... Pending the outcome of the BMW Championship on the PGA Tour, Luiten moves up as high as #55.

2nd place Miguel Jimenez... Moves up as high as #44, but if Ryan Moore (currently T6 at the BMW) maintains a top-10 finish, he'll push Jimenez down a spot.  

Most the other likely high point finishers at the BMW are already ranked above Luiten and Jimenez... so it's doubtful either would end up more than a spot or two below the above estimates after the BMW completes (hopefully tomorrow)

Where else would here 'bravo, bravo' after a putt that shaved the hole. Sure beats 'mashed potato' mid swing!

I heard someone shout "yaba daba doo" after a Phil Mickelson shot in Atlanta.