The DP World Tour returns after the US Open drama. The tour heads to the The International near Amsterdam this week for the KLM Open. Damien Kayat previews.
2024 DP World Tour
KLM Open
The International
20 – 23 June
European golf was dealt another Major Championship gut punch as Rory McIlroy imploded on the final few holes to hand Bryson DeChambeau (the most American of Americans) his second US Open golf title.
And the Northern Irish superstar really has nowhere to hide on this one. Bryson couldn’t find a fairway to save his life and McIlroy missed two sitters coming home. I really don’t know how he psychologically recovers from this one.
KLM Open
In any event, the DP World Tour moves swiftly on to this year’s edition of the KLM Open. Originally known as the Dutch Open, this event was founded way back in 1912.
It has been an ever-present on the tour since its inception in 1972. The 2020 renewal was cancelled due to Covid (making this the 104th staging of this event).
KLM actually withdrew their sponsorship for the last two editions due to the post-Covid economic climate. But they return to hosting duties this season as the event aims to rediscover some of its lost lustre.
The International
This is a nomadic event and this year’s renewal takes place at the 2019 host course: the International. Opened as recently as 2012, the International is located pretty close to Amsterdam city centre.
It was co-designed by former Masters champion Ian Woosnam and Belgian architecture firm Mastergolf. The International is a parkland course with some strong links overtures.
It has undulating fairways and many of the greens are hidden like Hobbit hovels. The greens are huge and will require accurate approach play to create realistic birdie opportunities.
Sergio Garcia won here back in 2019 and his tee-to-green performance was vastly superior to his short game that week. That being said, one event is really a small sample size and I personally feel that any golfer could thrive here.
I still think that accurate iron-play will prove vital in attacking these quick, well-contoured greens. I also think that players with links experience should thrive on this layout.
The Contenders
Sebastian Soderberg has been in pretty strong form and makes a reasonable favourite this week. But how will he react after that disastrous collapse at the Scandinavian Mixed?
He threw away an eight-shot Sunday lead to surrender the title to Linn Grant. He actually missed a ridiculously short par putt on the last that would have forced a playoff.
Tom McKibben is fast becoming something of a cult hero, finishing inside the top 50 at Pinehurst No.2. Matt Wallace and Bernd Wiesberger have been getting their respective games back into shape and both should relish this challenge.
Rasmus Hojgaard could do with a solid week as he battles to rediscover his best form. Defending champion Pablo Larrazabal will probably feel quite confident of making it back-to-back wins in this weak field.
Past Winners
2023: Pablo Larrazabal (-13)
2022: Victor Perez (-13) *playoff
2021: Kristoffer Broberg (-23)2020: event cancelled
2019: Sergio Garcia (-18)
To Win Outright:
Sebastian Soderberg 14/1) | Tom McKibben 16/1 | Matt Wallace 18/1 | Rasmus Hojgaard 18/1 | Bernd Wiesberger 18/1
Value Bet
Adrian Otaegui- To Win 40/1 | To Place 17/2
Spaniard Adrian Otaegui actually ranks sixth in this field in three-year scoring average. That shows you that Otaegui has the class to dominate this particularly weak event.
Also, he is a five-time DP World Tour winner whose most recent victory came at last month’s China Open. He was 2nd in this event last season (though that was played at Bernardus).
He also won the 2020 Scottish Championship at Fairmont St Andrews, highlighting his capacity to play well in linksy conditions.
The Man to Beat- Guido Migliozzi – To Win 35/1 | To Place 15/2
I really feel like Guido Migliozzi has a really good chance this week. He has been right in the mix in two of his last three DP World Tour events.
He finished runner-up to Otaegui at the Volvo China Open a month ago. He shared the lead of the European Open at the start of this month, ultimately shooting a final round 78 to finish in a tie for eighth.
He hasn’t played The International before but he did sit third after 54 holes at Bernardus two years back. He has a strong tee-to-green game and he just seems to be trending towards victory.
