Czech Masters: Horsey going for two in a row

The European Tour crosses the continent this week from Denmark to the Czech Republic for the D+D REAL Czech Masters at the Albatross Golf Resort. David Horsey is looking for two wins on the trot.

Lowdown: The European Tour crosses the continent this week from Denmark to the Czech Republic for the D+D REAL Czech Masters at the Albatross Golf Resort. David Horsey is looking for two wins on the trot.

After securing victory in last week’s Made in Denmark, England’s David Horsey will be aiming to continue showing good form in this second installment of the Czech Masters. As the 2015 European Tour approaches its closing stages, players are jockeying for position to retain playing rights and secure a spot in the season-ending DP World Tour Championship.

Victor Dubuisson is on the start list together with Horsey and Open de Espana champion James Morrison. Also teeing it up will be Eddie Pepperell, Nicolas Colsaerts and Peter Hanson.

Eddie Pepperell swing sequence:

In last year’s inaugural tournament Jamie Donaldson produced a superb performance to win this event by two shots from his fellow Welshman Bradley Dredge. The victory secured Donaldson’s place in Paul McGinley’s Ryder Cup team for Gleneagles. He made the very most of that opportunity, playing the shot of the year to claim the winning point.

Dredge is back again this year and is hoping to go one better this time out.

“Hopefully there’s something about that place that’s lucky for me – we’ll see this week,” he said.

Designed by Keith Preston, the course at the Albatross Golf Resort opened for play in 2009. It’s a testing course though with seven large lakes acting as protection, together with a selection of well-placed bunkers and 1,200 newly planted trees.

As well as being a simply incredible Scrabble score (if place names were allowed,) Vysoky Ujezd is a beautiful and historic village in the Beroun district, on the outskirts of the Czech Republic capital of Prague. The first written mention of the village dates to 1310.

The weather forecast is good for the week, although it could be very hot – temperatures into the 30s.

Venue: Albatross Golf Resort, Vysoky Ujezd, Prague, Czech Republic Date: Aug 27-30 Course stats: par 72, 7,516 yards Purse: €1,000,000 Winner: €166,660 Defending Champion: Jamie Donaldson (-14)

TV Coverage: Thursday 27 – Sky Sports 4 from 10am Friday 28 – Sky Sports 4 from 10am Saturday 29 – Sky Sports 4 from 12pm Sunday 30 – Sky Sports 4 from 11.30am

Player watch: Kristoffer Broberg – The Swede has been playing solidly for the last couple of months with six top-20 finishes in his last eight starts. In last week’s Made in Denmark, he closed with a course-record 62 to climb into a tie for second place. If he can keep that form going this week, he could be tough to beat.

Eddie Pepperell – The 24-year-old has been knocking on the door for some time and is overdue a victory. A great fourth place in the Scottish Open followed a tie for second in the Irish Open. He was also tied fifth in this event last year.

Bradley Dredge – Finishing second in this event last year secured Dredge playing rights for 2015. He should feed off good memories when he returns to Albatross Golf Resort. He also comes into the event on the back of a good result – he was tied for sixth last week in Denmark.

Key hole: 17th. A monster par-4 of 490 yards, this is one that demands a perfect drive and an accurate approach. Water runs down the right side from the tee and then across the fairway just at the limit of driving distance. Even if the players find good position from the tee, they’ll be left with a long iron (maybe even more) to a testing green.