KLM Open – the full Monty, part 2
If a Dutchman couldn’t win the KLM Open (10-14 September), then it was clear that the Dutch golf fans, who had made the journey to the Zandvoort coast, would be more than happy with the next best thing: a Belgian champion. After all, “a Belgian is half Dutch” – or at least that is what many golfing enthusiasts were claiming, rather cheekily, at the Kennemer Golf & Country Club on the Sunday.
They were, of course, referring to Thomas Pieters from Antwerp. The 23-year old is hot at the moment having won the Czech Open a week or two earlier. Hopes of a true Dutch champion were fading fast after the third round. On “moving day”, Joost Luiten was only able to add a 68 (2-under) to his tally leaving him 8 shots off the 16-under par lead set by overnight leaders Rafa Cabrera-Bello (Spain) and England’s Lee Slattery.
Wil Besseling was the only other Dutch player to survive the weekend cut and he needed desperately to see some putts disappear into the hole if he were to progress up the leaderboard . He lay a further two-shots behind Luiten.
It was another perfect scoring day. Predictions were already being made that someone would need to shoot at least 20-under par to stand a chance of walking off with the trophy. And with 12 players within 5 shots of the lead, there was sure to be quite a tussle at the top of the leaderboard on the final day.
The superstition of “unlucky for some: 13” seemed to be taking its toll on Luiten. Not only were there13 Dutch players in the tournament, but now playing on the 13th September, he had carded a bogey on the 13th hole to finally dash his hopes, just minutes after a glorious eagle at the 12th.
Zanotti happy to be back
A closing 7-under par, 63 saw Fabrizio Zanotti shoot up the leaderboard and become leader in the clubhouse at 17-under par. It was a welcome sight as Paraguay’s first ever player on the European Tour did not even manage to complete his first round in the Dutch Open last year due to an unfortunate accident. Play had to be suspended for a few hours after he was struck on the forehead by a golf ball in the morning. An ambulance finally reached him on the course from where he was rushed to hospital. He retired injured from the tournament and suffered dizzy spells for weeks afterwards.
Zanotti, now fully recovered and focussed on 2015, was leader in the clubhouse. Sensibly, he was planning to keep his golf shoes on for just a little while longer. This tournament was far from over. It was getting very busy at the top. And, as nerves began to jangle, there was always a wee chance that there might be a play-off.
Spanish revive Seve’s memories at the Kennemer
A few minutes later, Thomas Pieters, still out on the course with five holes to play, took the lead at 19-under par. The young Belgian was having quite a day, and quite a tussle, especially with one of the overnight leaders, Lee Slattery. The Englishman was hot and super relaxed after his recent win in Russia. He had teed off on Sunday at 16-under par tied with Rafa Cabrera-Bello, one of a cluster of Spanish professionals who was looking to follow in Seve Ballesteros’ footsteps and seize the Dutch crown which the legend had won at the Kennemer back in 1976.
The Spanish were having a mixed Sunday. Cabrera-Bello, whose vibrant and charismatic play had entertained the crowds all week, reviving the “oh, so missed” Seve memories, simply lost the flow over the closing holes. He eventually carded a 71 to finish tied 7th on 15-under par.
With a run of birdies on the10th, 11th and 12th, it was another Spanish player, Eduardo de la Riva, who turned up the heat to get himself into the mix. Closing with a 7-under par, 63, he became the new, rather unexpected, leader in the clubhouse at 18-under par. It would not be wise for the engraver to start putting a name on the trophy, just yet.
The last few holes saw Thomas Pieters playing really aggressively. He was going for the win. At 19-under for the tournament, his birdie putt on the 15th then narrowly missed. No doubt, his target was a repeat of the magical 20-under par, the score with which he had won the Czech Open a few weeks’ earlier.
Pieters glued to the television
Slattery, meanwhile, was not prepared to give Pieters the title on a platter. A perfectly-timed birdie at the14th saw him snatch back a share of the lead. The Englishman was looking good, yet the par 3, 15th denied him the birdie that he so deserved to get to 20-under. Pieters finished the rest of his round in level par to card four impressive scores: 68-66-62-65. He then spent the next few minutes glued to the television near the scorer’s area, where he ate a banana and watched Slattery play up the 18th. It was all going to be down to the last hole.
If the Englishman, who had graced the fairways in Holland all week with his good looks and stunning golf, was to win, all he needed was to birdie the 18th. A par would mean a play-off with Pieters. Perhaps the fans were about to be treated to another legendary play-off at the Kennemer. The championship was far from done and dusted.
Untimely tricky lie for Slattery
A reasonable drive from Slattery saw his ball get hung-up in the rough just to the right of the fairway. He had anticipated that the ball would kick-down from there onto the fairway. (The members know otherwise!) Unfortunately for Lee, he got his worst lie of the week, at this very crucial, all-important moment. With less than 90 metres to the green, he played it out well onto the front-edge, but the ball failed to roll out. He was left with a putt of around 20 metres to a hole tucked away on the left-hand edge of the green. A testing pin-position where umpteen players had come up short with their putts all day. Slattery was to be no exception. The Englishman left himself with a nasty “four-footer” which he needed to hole to get into the play-off. The putt agonisingly slipped by. It was Thomas Pieter’s lucky day. Victory for the 23-year old from Antwerp by one stroke. His second title in a matter of weeks. Lee Slattery and Eduardo de la Riva had to be content with a share of second spot.
Wendy Hoad
Main photograph: Thomas Pieters makes his way through the fans to the scorer’s area at the end of his final round. Centre: Lee Slattery (left) checks with Rafa Cabrera-Bello whether his putt is just on or off the 18th green. Below: Thomas Pieters, the Dutch Open Champion, with runner-up Lee Slattery, who still managed a sporting smile, during their press interviews.
Photography by Golfing Inspirations.