The 2010 Austrian Golf Open will move to a new venue when the 20th edition of the event takes place at Diamond Country Club in Atzenbrugg, near the Austrian capital Vienna, from September 16-19.
The 7,053 yards, par 72 Diamond Course was designed by renowned English architect Jeremy Pern, the former Vice President of the British Institute of Golf Course Architects who also fashioned Golf de la Wantzenau and Golf de Toulouse-Seilh in France, and Toya Golf and Country Club in Poland – all of which have hosted events on the European Challenge Tour.
The course, which opened in 2002, features water hazards on nine of the 18 holes, including the 192-yard 11th and 159-yard 15th holes, where both tee shots are played to island greens.
Diamond Country club takes over the staging of the Austrian Golf Open – which was first played in 1990, when Germany’s Bernhard Langer took the title – from Fontana Golf Club, the host venue for the past seven seasons.
Last year’s tournament produced one of the most memorable final days of the entire season, as Spain’s Rafael Cabrera-Bello closed with a quite stunning round of 60 – becoming only the third player to do so after England’s Jamie Spence and Welshman Ian Woosnam – to take the title by one shot from England’s Benn Barham.
The roll call of former champions includes India’s Jeev Milkha Singh (2008), Australian Richard Green (2007), Ireland’s Paul McGinley (1996), Germany’s Alex Cejka (1995), Northern Ireland’s Ronan Rafferty (1993), England’s Peter Mitchell (1992) and, perhaps most notably of all, home favourite Markus Brier, who in 2006 became the first Austrian to triumph on The European Tour, having previously won the event in 2002 and 2004 when it formed part of the Challenge Tour Schedule.
Keith Waters, Chief Operating Officer of The European Tour, said: “I would like to place on record my sincere thanks to Christian Guzy, the owner of Diamond Country Club, for his commitment and support in securing the future of the Austrian Golf Open. The Diamond Course is one of the finest in Austria, and I’m sure our Members will enjoying meeting the varied challenges it presents.”
Edwin Weindorfer and Herwig Straka, the CEO and founders of tournament promoters e|motion, said: “We are very glad to have been successful in finding a new home for the Austrian Golf Open. In particular, we would to thank the owners and officials of the fantastic Diamond Country Club, which will now be the home of the Austrian Golf Open for the next two years at least. In addition, we are also glad that our sponsors and partners have agreed to the switch to this new venue. We will continue to work together with The European Tour in growing and promoting the game of golf across Austria and the surrounding countries in Europe.”
The prize fund for this year’s tournament, which is the last regular European Tour event before The Ryder Cup, will be set at €750,000.
