Joost Luiten – the winner of the Austrian Open in 2013 – is favourite as the European Tour resumes after a fourth-month suspension because of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Picture by GETTY IMAGES

FORMER Austrian Open champion Joost Luiten returns to Diamond Country Club, the site of his second European Tour victory in 2013, as the favourite for the European Tour’s return to action.

The Dutchman is joined by one of the Tour’s most recent first-time winners in Oman Open champion Sami Välimäki.

The dual-ranked Austrian Open marks the return to golf for both the European Tour and European Challenge Tour after a four-month absence

The 2020 Race to Dubai was suspended after the Commercial Bank Qatar Masters, in early March, due to the coronavirus pandemic.

It resumes almost four months to the day with the first of two events in Austria, before moving on to the six-event UK Swing in July and August.

Lutien is hoping to pick up where he left off back in the spring.

Joost said: “I started to play well at the last two events before the break. I was up the leaderboard two weeks in a row but couldn’t finish the job

“But at least I was giving myself chances. It wasn’t great timing but, at the end of the day there’s nothing we could do. We had to accept it.

“It’ll be great to have these tournaments on again. We’ve been practising without having any events on the schedule.

“It’s been a bit weird and you find it difficult to find the motivation. Now we’ve been able to get ready for tournaments there’s some adrenaline and excitement going.

“I’ve been trying to get my game back up to tournament level, so it’ll be good to see where it is.

“Practising is always different. But I feel as though I’m hitting the ball well, so I need to see how I do under pressure.”

How Golf South reported Välimäki’s maiden win in Oman in March

Rookie Sami wants more victories

ROOKIE Sami Välimäki announced himself as Scandinavia’s new kid on the block, back in March.

He brought his swashbuckling, winning form from from Germany’s Pro Golf Tour, where he won the last three events of 2019, to the main Tour.

He said: “After the suspension of tournaments around the world, for the first three weeks I felt really disappointed because we couldn’t play golf.

“But after that it was nice to relax with my family and let it sink in that I won on the European Tour.

“It’s something I am really proud of, the way I played and the way I won the Oman Open.

“All of my friends and family were really happy for me, seeing the hard work pay off. So we had a big party to celebrate.

“I’m looking forward to getting back to competitive golf. It’ll be nice playing again.

“It’s been a long time since we’ve played in conditions like these. We’ve had a couple of tournaments back in Finland.

“There are a few things I’ve been working on with my game, so we’ll see what happens.

“I’m feeling good, so you never know. Everyone is in the same situation. It has been very different, so we’ll see what happens over the next few days.”

Recent winners join Jiménez in Austria

BELGIAN Nicolas Colsaerts, winner of the 2019 Open de France, and Sweden’s Anton Karlsson, who won the RAM Cape Town Open on the Challenge Tour, in February, are also in the field.

They travelled to Austria to appear alongside Spaniard Miguel Angel Jiménez, who is making his 705^th European Tour start this week.

That leaves the 21-time European winner just one appearance behind Sam Torrance’s record, which has stood for a decade.

Jimenez, who has been playing on the PGA Champions Tour since turning 50 six year ago, said: “It’s strange when you see a golf course with no ropes or hospitality.

“But it’s nice that they’ve made the effort to put on tournaments and bring people here to play golf.

“When I finished playing at Newport Beach in March, I spent two weeks in my house in the Dominican Republic, and they said everything was locked.

“We stayed there for four months and I arrived here last night.

“I’ve come here because I like the golf course, and my wife is from Austria.

“I’m here to compete. After four months I feel ready. Diamond Country Club is a very nice golf course, very flat – which is good for me.”

Conor Syme looking to go one better than his second place finish in the Shot Clock Masters two years ago at Austria’s Diamond Country Club

Scot Syme keen to take another Shot at Austrian title

Meanwhile, Scot Connor Syme recorded his best European Tour finish so far at the Diamond CC course in 2018. He was runner-up to Finn Mikko Korhonen at the innovative Shot Clock Masters.

Syme said: “I’m delighted to be back. It does feel weird. But it feels safe too – with all the precautions the European Tour are taking to make it possible to play.

“I’m feeling positive about that, which was going to be the difficult thing.”

The 24-year-old from Kirkcaldy added: “I have great memories of playing here.

“It’s the first time I’ve been back since. I’ve been talking my caddie through shots that I played.

“It’s been one of my biggest European Tour highlights, so it’s nice to come back and reminisce.

“We might be a little bit easier on ourselves after bad shots, after four months off.

“I’m expecting to be a bit rusty. But everyone will be in the same boat,” said Syme, who returned to the European Tour after a top 15 finish on the Challenge Tour’s Race to Majorca in 2019,

As per all events on the reshaped 2020 Race to Dubai, the Austrian Open will be governed by the European Tour’s comprehensive health strategy.

Healthcare specialists Cignpost will deliver rapid on-site COVID-19 screening.

All players, caddies and on-site personnel will be tested at the Diamond CC, and future venues, to help mitigate risk of the virus spreading.

Participants will operate within national public health guidelines, including social distancing and following enhanced hygiene directives.

•For live scoring at Austria’s Diamond CC click here.

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Eurpoean captain Padraig Harrington will use his appearance at the Omega Dubai Desert Classic next month to make a check on the early front runners in the race for a Ryder Cup spot at Whistling Straits. Picture by GETTY IMAGES

EUROPEAN Ryder Cup captain Padraig Harrington will head to the Omega Dubai Desert Classic in January, where he will be joined by his predecessor Thomas Bjørn and two-time winning assistant Miguel Ángel Jiménez.

The trio of European Tour legends join an already star-studded field, which sees the return of the tournament-record setting defending champion, Bryson DeChambeau.

Previous winners Rafa Cabrera Bello, Sergio Garcia, Haotong Li, Henrik Stenson and Danny Willett will also be in attendance, in addition to a string of other big names – including Tommy Fleetwood, Matt Fitzpatrick, Tyrrell Hatton, Ian Poulter, Matt Wallace and Lee Westwood.

The oldest tournament in the region and the longest running on the circuit outside of Europe will be played on the Majlis Course, at Emirates Golf Club.

The Majis was recently crowned the best in the Middle East by Golf Digest.

Harrington will make his eighth appearance at the Dubai Desert Classic next month, and will no doubt have a busy week assessing those in early contention for one of 12 Ryder Cup berths in September – a fact that does not escape the Irishman.

“The Omega Dubai Desert Classic is one of our most iconic events and one I cannot wait to return to,” said Harrington, who finished in a tie for second alongside Tiger Woods at this event in 2001, two shots adrift of Bjorn.

“There is a lot of golf to be played between now and Whistling Straits and, in that time, I hope to play with everyone who is in contention for the team.

“I can think of no better place to do so than Emirates Golf Club, so I’m looking forward it,” added the Irishman, who will arrive in the United Arab Emirates in search of his 16^th European Tour title.

Thomas Bjorn’s win in the Omega Dubai Desert Classic, beating Tiger Woods down the stretch in 2001, is one of the tournament’s most famous wins. Picture by GETTY IMAGES

Bjørn knows what it takes to triumph over Team USA, but with his experience in Paris behind him, 2020 provides a great opportunity for the “Great Dane” to demonstrate how he earned that moniker.

What better place than an event the 48-year old has tasted success at before having, some 18 years ago, played alongside Woods on all four days to deliver one of the event’s most iconic closing Sundays.

“I always love coming back to Dubai and the Desert Classic has so many great memories for me,” said Bjorn.

“To go toe-to-toe with Tiger and come out on top is not something many people can lay claim to, so it is a moment from my career that I will never forget.

“The Majlis Course is always in impeccable condition and it will be great to get out there again in January,” Bjorn added.

Jimenez’s 26th start in Dubai Desert Classic

No stranger to the Dubai Desert Classic, Jiménez – nicknamed The Mechanic – will make his 26^th appearance at the 2020 event, none more impressive than his winning display nine years ago.

That year the Spaniard, who was assistant to Jose Maria Olazabal in 2012’s Miracle of Medinah and two years later helping Paul McGinley’s side at Gleneagles, beat Westwood in extra holes.

Victory came some five years after Jimenez narrowly lost out to three-time winner Ernie Els, as the South African eagled the 72^nd hole to win by a stroke in 2006.

“I first played in this event back in 1991, so it has been amazing to come back virtually every year and see how much the place has changed,” said the 55-year-old, who won the Senior Open at St Andrews, in 2018.

Jimenez has seven victories in the States since joining the Champions Tour in 2014, including last year’s Regions Tradition Major to go with his 21 European Tour victories between 1992 and 2014.

“I have some amazing memories from my visits to Dubai and my win here is a stand-out for me,” added Jimenez, who won 14 of those European Tour titles in 10 years after turning 40.

“I still enjoy coming out and proving I have what it takes to keep up with the young guys, so I’m looking forward to doing just that in a few weeks,” said Jimenez, who is the oldest player to have won on the European Tour at 50.

Miguel Angel Jimenez playing in the 2019 Omega Dubai Desert Classic at the Emirates’ Majis Course. Picture by GETTY IMAGES

The inaugural Omega Dubai Desert Classic was won by Yorkshire’s Mark James.

It has gone on to establish a roll of honour boasting some of the biggest names in golf over the past 30 years – including the likes of Seve Ballesteros, Fred Couples, Rory McIlroy, Colin Montgomerie and Woods.

Next month’s event will boast an exciting new “Tournament Town,” which will offer a first-class culinary experience and the latest in family entertainment.

With the four-day event set to be bigger and better than ever, there is still time to book daily, season or Terrace Hospitality tickets, with prices starting from 75 dirham.

•To purchase hospitality, season or daily tickets, go to: https://www.omegadubaidesertclassic.com/buy-tickets/

For more information on the Omega Dubai Desert Classic, visit: https://www.omegadubaidesertclassic.com/

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Padraig Harrington is back in Malaysia for the Maybank Championship as he continues to recover from a wrist injury. Picture by GETTY IMAGES

PADRAIG Harrington is teeing off his 2019 season in buoyant mood at the Maybank Championship as his recovery from a wrist injury exceeds expectations.

The next European Ryder Cup captain is making his first appearance in the Kuala Lumpur event.

But the two-time Open winner has previously enjoyed success in Malaysia, recording five top eight finishes in the Malaysian Open, including tied sixth on his last outing six years ago.

Those results also include two runner-up spots, with one coming at this week’s venue, Saujana Golf and Country Club, as he finished just behind fellow three-time Major champion Vijay Singh in 2001.

Harrington, who won the Open at Carnoustie in 2007 before becoming one of just seven players since the war to successfully defend the Claret Jug 12 months later – at Royal Birkdale – admitted he is still not fully fit.

Padraig, who did not realise he had broken a bone in a wrist in a slip before Christmas, until it was spotted in early January requiring a splint, said: “I wouldn’t say the wrist is 100 per cent –it might not be 100 per cent for about nine months, or at least another six or seven months. I’m working away at it.

“It’s interesting to come out here. I hit shots on the range here, I hit shots last week and the wrist is holding up, there’s no doubt about it.

“There’s a certain amount of mobility issues and I need to work on the strength of it, but in general it’s right on track. If anything, it’s probably ahead of expectations.

“Traditionally the Malaysian Open was my first event of the season, if you go back 20 years.

“It’s my first event this year and I’m looking forward to that good karma, let’s say.

“It’s a very good set up this year. The changes to the greens have substantially changed the way the course will play.

“The greens are firm. It looks like the changes are excellent, a really, really good challenge.”

Joining the 2008 USPGA Champion in the field is fellow European Tour and Ryder Cup stalwart Miguel Ángel Jiménez, who echoed Harrington’s praise for the recent changes at Saujana.

The flamboyant Spaniard has enjoyed great success in Asia over the years, with his 21 European Tour victories including five Hong Kong Open titles.

The 55-year-old is feeling as competitive as ever as he successfully balances life on the European Tour and the over 50s circuit, capturing his first two senior Major titles last year including the Senior Open on the Staysure Tour.

Jiménez – nicknamed The Mechanic on Tour – said: “There have been a few changes, the first couple of holes are different.

“The greens are all new. The golf course is in very good shape. I feel comfortable here. I like this kind of weather. It’s nice, I feel good.

“Good golf course, good design. I enjoy coming to Malaysia.

“I’m still playing well on both tours. Now I dedicate more than 20 per cent to senior golf.

“But I still like to play on the European Tour too. I play maybe six tournaments a year.

“I still have my category to play, and as long as I have my category I will keep playing. If I didn’t feel competitive I wouldn’t come here.

“When the moment comes that I don’t feel competitive, I won’t come. There is no point coming just to show up.”

The co-sanctioned Maybank Championship is an event much closer to home for Malaysia’s highest ranked player Gavin Green.

The 2017 Asian Tour Order of Merit winner has played in all three previous editions of the tournament and is relishing the prospect of chasing a first European Tour title, and his second on the Asian Tour, in front of a home crowd.

Green said: “It’s such a big one for me. I love playing in front of a home crowd.

“Maybank have helped me and been with me through the years. It would be really good to play well and finish as high as I can.

“I feel good, I’ve been playing well the last few weeks. I’ve just had a couple of hiccups here and there that disrupted the whole game, but it’s been good so far.

“I got my coach down for a couple of days and worked with him, trying to get ready for this event.”

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he majestic Sunningdale clubhouse where the 2020 Senior Open will be hosted the Staysure European Tour has announced. Picture by KEVIN DISS

SUNNINGDALE Golf Club will host The Senior Open for the third time when Europe’s only Senior Major Championship returns in 2020.

The Old Course at Sunningdale first hosted The Senior Open in 2009, when America’s Loren Roberts defeated compatriot Fred Funk and Ireland’s Mark McNulty in a play-off.

Another American, Marco Dawson, was triumphant when the Senior Major returned in 2015, finishing one stroke ahead of Bernhard Langer.

In addition to two Senior Opens, Sunningdale has also hosted the British Masters, the European Open, The Seve Trophy, The Walker Cup, AIG Women’s British Open and has been a qualifying venue for The Open.

The R&A’s executive director of championships Johnnie Cole-Hamilton said: “The Senior Open continues to grow in stature and Sunningdale will be an outstanding venue for the 2020 championship.

“The top senior players in the world will relish the challenge presented by the Old Course and we can look forward to an excellent week of world-class golf.”

The European Tour’s Staysure chief David MacLaren said: “We are very pleased to announce The Senior Open’s return to the incredible Old Course at Sunningdale.

“The Senior Open offers us the unique opportunity to visit both traditional Open-rota venues and other world-class golf courses in the British Isles.

“Sunningdale is consistently ranked as one of the best courses in the world, not just the United Kingdom, and we are all looking forward to returning next year.”

Among those who will be eligible to compete in their first Senior Opens are five-time Major Champion Phil Mickelson, 2003 US Open champion and 2018 USA Ryder Cup Captain Jim Furyk and 2003 Masters winner Mike Weir.

Nick Howe, chairman of Sunningdale’s tournament committee, said: ‘’We are delighted The Senior Open is returning to Sunningdale in 2020.

“It is the third time we will have held this prestigious event and we are very much looking forward to hosting the best senior golfers in the world and seeing how they navigate the challenges of The Old Course, now ranked the No. 1 course in England.’’

About The Senior Open

The Senior Open Presented by Rolex will return to Royal Lytham & St Annes for the first time since 1994 when the 33^rd edition of the Championship is staged from July 25-28.

Royal Lytham & St Annes hosted The Senior Open for four consecutive years from 1991-4.

Bobby Verwey, John Fourie, Bob Charles and Tom Wargo were the winners of Europe’s only Senior Major Championship on the Lancashire links during this time.

Royal Lytham & St Annes has hosted The Open on 11 occasions and hosted the Ricoh Women’s British Open in 2018.

Miguel Ángel Jiménez became the third consecutive European winner of The Senior Open after his one-stroke victory over defending champion Bernhard Langer on the Old Course at St Andrews in 2018.

Paul Broadhurst started the run of European victories at Carnoustie in 2016.

In 2017, Langer became the first golfer in history to win 10 Senior Major Championships, as he joined Gary Player and Tom Watson as the only three-time winners of the Senior Open Trophy with his victory at Royal Porthcawl Golf Club in Wales.

The Senior Open was introduced in 1987 at Turnberry in Ayrshire when Neil Coles, the former chairman of the board of directors of the PGA European Tour, won the inaugural title.

This led, two years later, to the formal inception of the European Senior Tour. In 2018, the Senior Tour was rebranded with Staysure becoming the first title sponsor of what is now known as the Staysure Tour.

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