Romain Wattel will aim to defend his title at the KLM Open this year but will face stiff competition with seven other past champions also in the field.
Following the close of entries for the tournament, which takes place from September 13-16, it can be confirmed that eight previous winners will compete in next month’s event: Lee Westwood (1999), Maarten Lafeber (2003), Gonzalo Fernandez-Castano (2005), Simon Dyson (2006, 2009, 2011), Ross Fisher (2007), Martin Kaymer (2010), Peter Hanson (2012), Joost Luiten (2013, 2016) and Wattel.
Also set to play in one of the European Tour’s longest-running events are Major Champions Padraig Harrington, Angel Cabrera and José María Olazábal, as is former Order of Merit winner Robert Karlsson.
Matt Wallace and Shubhankar Sharma, both two-time winners on the European Tour winners this season, will go in search of further triumphs in the Netherlands, while Kiradech Aphibarnrat and Eddie Pepperell will also look to continue the good form they have shown this term.
Following a successful wrist operation home favourite Luiten faces a race against time to be fit for his national Open.
The two-time champion and KLM Open ambassador previously announced he would be unable to participate in the event, but after a successful operation he still garners hopes of playing in his homeland.
"My wrist came out of the plaster very well, if everything goes well I have a chance to play in the KLM Open,” he said.
“I have signed up for the tournament as I still want to keep all of my options open. The mobility and strength still has to come back to the wrist and one week before the tournament I am going to consult with my surgeon and make a decision.
“I am not going to take any risks, and I also say it is not just about me at the KLM Open. It is a very strong tournament with really big names."
