Will Englishman’s new swing survive the Sunday strain?

Englishman Chris Wood closed out with a splendid birdie at the par-5 18th on Saturday for a round of 65 to take the overnight lead in the KLM Open (13-16 September) on 13-under par, just one shot ahead of China’s Wu Ashun who has sparkled in Spijk from day one.  Wood’s fellow countryman Jonathan Thomson and Japan’s Hideto Tanihara share second place with Wu.  A whole bunch of other players are hot on their heels among them three-times Major winner from Ireland, Padraig Harrington.

 

Wood, the lanky 6’6” (196 cm) Tour pro from Bristol, who has already won three times on the European Tour, has been making some big changes to his swing in recent months.  Although he tees-off on Sunday in the final group, the 30-year old admits that he is not that confident of his chances.  Despite working hard on his game, he says that he is still not entirely happy with his shot-making.  But, at the end of the day, it’s the scores you write on the card that count, not how you make them.  Wood’s scores around the par-71 inland links of The Dutch look pretty formidable after 54 holes: 65, 70 and 65.

 

Young Thomas Detry is also enjoying himself in Holland.  After a disappointing start (74), the Belgian talent then shot a 4-under par 67 on day two to just make the cut.  On Saturday he played a dream round of 63 to equal the course record and get himself into the top-10 for the final round just three shots off the pace.

 

Detry was not the only player shooting the flagsticks out of the hole in Spijk.  Hideto Tanihara also carded a 63 on Saturday to get himself into contention in the 99th International Dutch Open Championship.  It could well be a ‘Rugby scrum Sunday’ with a host of International players in the mix.  Will Chris Wood, the BMW PGA Champion of 2016 at Wentworth come out on top of the pile?  Or will the KLM Open see its first Asian champion in Wu Ashun?  It’s going to be a tough call.  Enjoy!

 

Wendy Hoad

 

 

CHECK OUT the KLM Open leaderboard HERE

 

PICTURED:  Chris Wood during his victory in the 2016 BMW PGA Championship.