Centenary edition attracts big names to Amsterdam
Sergio Garcia from Spain makes his debut in the KLM Open in the Netherlands today. The Masters Champion of 2017 is one of the big attractions in the 100th edition of the Dutch Open which is being held for the first time at The International in Amsterdam from 12-15 September 2019.
The 39-year old Spaniard is not the only player with a coveted Green Jacket in his wardrobe to be playing in Holland this week. American Patrick Reed, winner of the 2018 Masters, flew into Schiphol airport last week to get in some extra practise at the new venue. Currently rated as 16th in the Official World Ranking, the 29-year old from Texas is the highest-ranked player in the field.
Talking of Majors, Germany’s Martin Kaymer, who won the 2010 Dutch Open and the US PGA, his first Major, in the same glorious year, also features in the star-studded line-up along with Padraig Harrington from Ireland. The current Ryder Cup Captain had the honour of winning The Open Championship in 2007 and 2008. Later that year he also won the US PGA Championship.
Spanish heroes
Sergio Garcia’s own hero and friend, the late Seve Ballesteros played in his first tournament as a professional in Holland in 1976. He was just 19 years old at the time. The Dutch Open at the Kennemer G&CC was where he made his debut. And what a debut it was. He played sublimely on the links course at Zandvoort and on the Sunday was crowned the Dutch Open Champion winning by a margin of eight strokes. Little did the startled spectators know then that this young Spanish talent would become a world star. Or perhaps they did? Even from day one, Ballesteros had such charisma, charm and good looks.
Spaniard José María Olazábal also left his mark on the Dutch Open. In 1989 Olazábal beat Northern Ireland’s Ronan Rafferty at the 9th extra hole of a three-way sudden-death play-off at the Kennemer. It remains to this day the longest and most bizarre sudden-death play-off in European golf history. It took nine extra holes in rain and storms to finally decide that the Spaniard should be presented with the trophy. Roger Chapman, the Englishman, dropped out after a bogey 5 at the first extra hole. It was the beginning of a glorious career for the Spaniard.
Sergio, or ‘El Niño’ as Seve and ‘Ollie’ used to call their young compatriot, is no doubt aware of the historical Spanish links with the Dutch Open and would love to add his name to the list of winners.
So just how many Spanish winners have there been in the last 99 years? Quite a few, actually. In total, nine Spanish victories. Gonzalo Fernández-Castaño being the last to win at the Hilversumsche GC in 1994. Ramón Sota won twice, both times at the Kennemer (1966, 1971). Even more remarkable, Seve Ballesteros was crowned Dutch Open Champion three times on three different courses: Kennemer (1976), Hilversumsche (1980) and Noordwijkse (1986) in his dazzling career.
While the English and Dutch were the prolific winners in the early years – Englishman George Pannell was the first winner of the Dutch Open in 1912 when it was played at The Haagsche – from the 1930’s suddenly there was an explosion of foreign influence. Winners came from Belgium, France and South Africa.
Dutch golfer Joost Luiten celebrates his second KLM Open victory with his team at The Dutch in 2016. © Photography by Golfing Inspirations
Back to 2019 at The International
In a break from tradition, the KLM Open, one of the oldest tournaments on the European Tour, is once again being played on one of Holland’s new courses. After three years at The Dutch in Spijk, an inland links course which opened its fairways for play in 2011, the tournament has now headed north to the capital.
The International at Badhoevedorp near Amsterdam is one of the country’s new golfing gems. It has the honour of hosting the 100th edition of the Dutch Open. The gently undulating fairways and slick greens are little more than a chip and a putt from Amsterdam Schiphol Airport making it ideal for the players flying in from all around the world. Also handy for those not making the halfway cut to make a quick exit on Friday!
The International was the logical choice for the tournament’s loyal sponsor, the Dutch airline KLM, which is also celebrating its centenary in 2019. With the busy skies over Schiphol though, I’m curious as to how they’ll manage to stage a special fly-over of planes to honour the 100th Dutch Open Champion at the end of play on Sunday afternoon. However, if local hero, Joost Luiten completes his hat-trick by winning this special edition, I’m sure they’ll find a way.
Enjoy the 100th KLM Open!
Wendy Hoad
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The first players tee-off at 07.45 hours (local Amsterdam time) on Thursday, 12 September. Sergio Garcia is playing in the same group as defending Champion Ashun Wu and Holland’s Joost Luiten at 08.25 hours starting on the 10th tee. On Friday, this group will tee-off on the 1st tee at 13.25 hours.
MAIN PHOTOGRAPH: 2017 Masters Champion Sergio Garcia. MINIS; (l-r) Major Winners Patrick Reed, Martin Kaymer, Padraig Harrington and Sergio Garcia. BELOW: Twice Dutch Open winner Joost Luiten from Holland.