KLM Open Preview

As the Ryder Cup looms large, the European Tour is in Holland this week for the KLM Open at Hilversumsche Golf Club. Simon Dyson defends the title while Martin Kaymer and Louis Oosthuizen are in the field.

Simon Dyson defends
Fergus Bisset
By
published

Lowdown: As the Ryder Cup looms large, the European Tour is in Holland this week for the KLM Open at Hilversumsche Golf Club. Simon Dyson defends the title while Martin Kaymer and Louis Oosthuizen are in the field. The tournament returns to Hilversumsche Golf Club in Hilversum for the first time since 2005, a club that has hosted the Dutch Open on 15 occasions since it became a European Tour event in 1972. It's a historic course dating from 1910 when the original nine holes were laid out. Harry Colt added nine more in 1928 and, since then, Sir Guy Campbell and Kyle Phillips have made further alterations and improvements. The Dutch Open also has a great history. It was first contested back in 1912 when Englishman George Pannell was victorious. Since then many famous professionals have claimed the title. They include, J.H Taylor, Bobby Locke, Roberto De Vicenzo, Seve Ballesteros, Bernhard Langer and Colin Montgomerie. Last season England's Simon Dyson came through a sudden-death playoff against Peter Hedblom of Sweden and Ireland's Peter Lawrie. Dyson sank a long birdie putt on the first extra hole to secure the title for the second time. He was also champion in 2006. Dyson will have his work cut out if he's to make it a hat-trick of victories in Holland as a strong field will assemble at the Hilversumsche Golf Club. USPGA winner Martin Kaymer and Open champion Louis Oosthuizen are on the start sheet along with other Ryder Cup team members Ross Fisher and Francesco Molinari.

Venue: Hilversumsche Golf Club, The Netherlands Date: Sep 9-12 Course stats: par 70, 6,906 yards Purse: €1,800,000 Winner: €300,000 Defending Champion: Simon Dyson (-15)

TV Coverage: Thursday 9 - Live on Sky Sports 3 from 10.30am Friday 10 - Live on Sky Sports 3 from 10.30am Saturday 11 - Live on Sky Sports 4 from 12.30pm Sunday 12 - Live on Sky Sports 3 from 12.30pm

Player Watch: Francesco Molinari - Brother Edoardo has stolen the limelight somewhat in recent weeks and Francesco will be keen to prove his credentials pre-Ryder Cup. An unerringly straight driver of the ball, this short, tight course should suit his game well.

Simon Dyson - Disappointed to miss out on Ryder Cup selection, the Englishman will be keen to show why he could have been a valuable member of the team. With two wins in this event since 2006, he clearly enjoys playing on Dutch soil.

Martin Kaymer - The German makes his first European Tour start since his victory in the USPGA Championship. He's currently number 1 in the Race to Dubai and sixth on the Official World Golf Ranking. He'll be the man to beat this week.

Key hole: 18th. At just 499 yards, this is a par 5 that's reachable for every player in the field. It's relatively tight but there are no real hazards to contend with. Eagles will be scored here and it could mean dramatic swings right at the end of the tournament.

Skills required: Accuracy. At under 7,000 yards this is a course where "the bombers" won't have such an advantage. Watch for one of the shorter, straighter hitters to emerge from the pack.

Fergus Bisset
Fergus Bisset
Contributing Editor

Fergus is Golf Monthly's resident expert on the history of the game and has written extensively on that subject. He has also worked with Golf Monthly to produce a podcast series. Called 18 Majors: The Golf History Show it offers new and in-depth perspectives on some of the most important moments in golf's long history. You can find all the details about it here.

He is a golf obsessive and 1-handicapper. Growing up in the North East of Scotland, golf runs through his veins and his passion for the sport was bolstered during his time at St Andrews university studying history. He went on to earn a post graduate diploma from the London School of Journalism. Fergus has worked for Golf Monthly since 2004 and has written two books on the game; "Great Golf Debates" together with Jezz Ellwood of Golf Monthly and the history section of "The Ultimate Golf Book" together with Neil Tappin , also of Golf Monthly.

Fergus once shanked a ball from just over Granny Clark's Wynd on the 18th of the Old Course that struck the St Andrews Golf Club and rebounded into the Valley of Sin, from where he saved par. Who says there's no golfing god?

Latest