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Joost Luiten looks for more good form in Oman Open as Muscat stirs memory of win

Joost Luiten, winner of the Oman Open in 2018, is looking forward to returning to Greg Norman’s Almouj Golf course

Holland’s Joost Luiten won the Oman Open two years ago and rates Greg Norman’s Al Mouj Golf course as one of the best the European Tour plays on. Picture by GETTY IMAGES

JOOST Luiten is hoping to draw on the good memories of his victory at Al Mouj Golf two years ago, when he returns to one of his favourite courses on the calendar for the 2020 Oman Open.

The Dutchman got the better of Chris Wood in a final day battle to win the inaugural edition of the Omani event in 2018, before finishing in a tie for 12th last year.

The 34-year-old, who has six European Tour wins to his name over the last nine years, is a big fan of this week’s host course – and is hopeful his experience will serve him well as he seeks victory number seven.

Luiten said: “I’m feeling good. It’s always good to come back to a golf course where you’ve won, where you have good memories, where you know you can play well.

“I love this golf course. It’s one of the best golf courses I think we play all year. It’s in great condition, the greens are firm and quick.

“It’s going to be a good test. You just need to strike it well. If you can hit the fairways and you can hit the greens from there, you can make a good score.

“But if you struggle off the tee, this is going to be a really tough golf course to play.

“It’s always great to win a tournament, especially when you can relax on the 18th and enjoy it – and that’s what I tried to do,” added Joost Lutien, whose maiden European Tour win came in the co-sanctioned Iskandar Johor Open, in Malaysia, in 2011.

“Hopefully I can take those good vibes out on the golf course this week again.

“I can remember the last day. It was a fun day and I had a great start, making three birdies on the first four holes to go three clear.

“And then it became a battle between me and Woody – obviously a good friend of mine.

“We didn’t play in the same group, but I can remember I was watching the group in front to see what he was doing – and he bogeyed the 17th to give me a little bit of air to go down the 18th two shots clear,” added Joost Luiten.

Defending champion Kurt Kitayama is not defending his title in Oman – he now has status on the PGA Tour and is playing at the Honda Open, at PGA National, in Palm Beach Gardens.

Stone another big fan of Al Mouj

THREE-time European Tour winner Brandon Stone also has fond memories of Muscat as he makes his fifth appearance in the Oman capital this week.

Stone said: “Oman is fantastic. What a design of a golf course that is – when people ask me what’s my favourite course on the European Tour, Al Mouj Golf is definitely up there. It’s simply fantastic.

“I played it during my time on the Challenge Tour and the design of the course is timeless.

“Greg Norman has done an incredible job there. Coming back is really fun.

“I love the place, the people, the golf course, the town of Muscat so I’m very excited to be back here.”

“Generally, when playing golf in the Middle East, driving is important.

“You’ve got to get a decent amount of carry through the air and with a lot of bunkers sitting around 280-290 yards off the tee it’s important to find the fairway – and that applies to this course, too.”

Aside from his two European Tour appearances in the Sultanate, the South African enjoyed top 10 finishes twice when the event was on the Challenge Tour schedule.

The 26-year-old finished tied fourth in 2013 at Al Mouj Golf before a sixth placed finish in the Challenge Tour Grand Final two years later helped him on his way to 14th in the rankings.

That secured Stone’s European Tour playing privileges for the following season.

•To see the first round tee times in the Oman Open, click here.

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