The European Tour moves to Germany this week for the 2024 edition of the European Open. Damien Kayat previews.
2024 DP World Tour
European Open
The Porsche Nord Course
30 May – 3 June 2024
Thomas Pieters tried his best to come through for me last week, producing a five-under-par final round to finish just one shot behind eventual champion Nacho Elvira at the Soudal Open.
European Open
The DP World Tour moves to Germany this week for the latest edition of the European Open. First staged in 1978, American Bobby Wadkins won the inaugural edition hosted at Walton Heath.
The tournament was a nomadic ever-present before falling off the schedule in 2009. It came back into rotation in 2015 and has been hosted in Germany ever since. It started its renaissance at the Beckenbauer Course in Bad Briesbach.
But it switched to its current host venue Green Eagle Golf Resort in 2017. That makes this the 7th consecutive renewal hosted at the feared Porsche Nord Course (formally known as the North Course).
The Porsche Nord Course
The North Course is one of the more deceptive layouts in all of European golf. Reputed to be one of the ten longest golf courses in the world, the North Course has a fearsome reputation akin to a US Open venue (and this is reflected in recent single-digit winning scores).
But there is plenty of tinkering done with the yardage during each renewal and it will probably play closer to 7,500 yards. Surprisingly, driving distance has largely proven largely irrelevant around the North Course (despite the inviting fairways).
Water is nearly omnipresent around the North Course and is ready to gobble up erratic driving. This means that driving accuracy has actually emerged as a more crucial stat than distance. I think GIR will probably be the best indicator of success this week.
The Contenders
Four of the top five in GIR ranked 6th or better in last year’s edition. The large greens- a Bentgrass/Poa Annua mix- feature major undulations and require surgical iron play to create birdie possibilities.
Defending champion Tom McKibben returns to the site of his maiden- and only- tour victory this week, looking to recapture the magic that saw him become the youngest Irish winner on tour since Rory McIlroy. He has three top-10 finishes this season and has generally been one of the more consistent performers out there.
Jordan Smith continues to suck up unnecessary oxygen in the upper reaches of the market while recent winners – such as Adrian Otaegui and Kieta Nakajima – wonder what they have done to be booted down the pecking order.
Rasmus Hojgaard has had his troubles since his excellent start to the season during the desert swing. Perhaps this could be his week to reassert himself as one of European golf’s most elite prospects.
Past Winners
2023: Tom McKibben (-9)
2022: Kalle Samooja (-6)
2021: Marcus Armitage (-8) *54 holes
2020: event cancelled
2019: Paul Casey (-14)
To Win Outright:
Tom McKibben 20/1 | Jordan Smith 20/1 | Rasmus Hojgaard 22/1 | Keita Nakajima 25/1 | Adrian Otaegui 28/1
Value Bet
Rasmus Neergaard-Peterson- To Win 33/1 | To Place 7/1
This is purely based on recent form. These aren’t elite fields and I’m more than prepared to back someone with excellent Challenge Tour credentials. The double-barreled Neergard-Peterson is currently the hottest player on the Challenge Tour, coming into this event off the back of five consecutive top-10 finishes (including two victories).
He finished 7th on tour-level debut at last year’s BMW International Open and I can quite easily see him competing this week.
The Man to Beat- Ewan Ferguson – To Win 33/1 | To Place 7/1
There does seem to be some correlation between success in China and success in this event. This event shares similarities with those modern Chinese layouts (namely the crazy length and plentiful water hazards). Ferguson had the halfway lead at the 2018 Foshan Open and he could be one to back at 33/1.
The Scot has won at Galgorm Castle (a pretty stern test) and he could have the tee-to-green game to compete this week. He hasn’t missed the cut in his last eight events, finishing inside the top 25 in six of those outings.
