Insect bite denies defending champion chance at The Dutch

BREAKING NEWS …Thomas Pieters has had to withdraw from the KLM Open. The 24-year old reigning Dutch Open Champion, who has just received a wildcard for the Ryder Cup, will not be defending his title at The Dutch golf course in Spijk due to health reasons.  Apparently an insect bite is causing him problems.  South African Jake Roos will take the place of Pieters.

 

A bitter blow for the organisers of the KLM Open and the many Belgian fans expected to spill over the border to support their man.  The Belgian talent, who has been oozing confidence lately with three European Tour wins under his belt including the Made in Denmark title a few weeks ago and a fourth place in the Rio Olympic Games, was one of the stars of this year’s tournament in Holland.

 

He was due to play his first two rounds with Dutchman Joost Luiten.  On Monday, they played a fun challenge match of six holes at The Dutch to launch this year’s championship.  Pieters was in blistering form that day.  Or at least his golf was.  As I write, it’s not clear as to when he was bitten or by what sort of insect.

 

 

Luckily for the Belgian golf fans who have already purchased tickets to this year’s event, they have three other irons in the fire: the “Belgian bomber” Nicolas Colsaerts;  Tour rookie Thomas Detry; and an amateur, Alan de Bondt.

 

A feast of Dutch players

 

Luiten is joined by twelve other Dutch players in Spijk.  Among the eight professionals who have received wildcards are: Jurrian van der Vaart, Reinier Saxton, Daan Huizing, Darius van Driel, Wil Besseling, Thomas Merkx and Ralph Miller.  Three Dutch amateurs have also received an invitation to play:  Vince van Veen, Lars van Meijel, Peter Melching en Rowin Caron.  Completing the line-up of amateurs at The Dutch:  Philip Bootsma (winner of the Brabants Open) and Belgian amateur Alan de Bondt, winner of the Dutch Junior Open at Toxandria.

 

More Ryder Cup stars

 

While Thomas Pieters will be truly missed, he is not the only Ryder Cup talent teeing-off this week.  Three other rookies, “Spaceman” Andy Sullivan, who shot to fame by winning the space trip at the Kennemer for his hole-in-one a few years ago, Englishman Chris Wood, and the impressive Spaniard Rafa Cabrera-Bello, who came so close to winning the 2015 KLM Open, are due at The Dutch this week, together with a few past winners such as Peter Hanson, Maarten Lafeber and three times champion Simon Dyson.  Other prominent players on the startlist are Byeong Hun An, Robert Karlsson, Thongchai Jaidee, Alex Noren, Jamie Donaldson and Victor Dubuisson.  Let’s just hope they are all fit and well this morning!

 

 

Wendy Hoad

 

 

READ MORE about the The Dutch Opens 

 

For further information about the KLM Open: www.klmopen.nl

 

PICTURED:  Thomas Pieters playing at The Dutch before he had to withdraw from the KLM Open.  (Below:) Nicolas Colsaerts.