The European Tour returns to Himmerland Golf & Spa Resort for Made in HimmerLand presented by FREJA. Here are your five things to know for this week…
The return to Himmerland
The European Tour’s Race to Dubai continues this week with Made in HimmerLand presented by FREJA, which returns to the schedule for the first time since Bernd Wiesberger lifted the trophy in 2019.
The venue, which has been host to five of the six previous editions of the tournament, was opened in 1992 and designed by Jan Cedermolm. At 6,751 yards, the course has a par of 71 – and in 2015 featured the shortest par 3 in European Tour history, when the 16th played just 79 yards.
Challenge Tour roots
Before the first European Tour staging of Made in HimmerLand (previously known as Made in Denmark) in 2014, Himmerland Golf & Spa Resort made its home for four years on the Challenge Tour between 1994-1998.
But that’s not the only Challenge Tour connection. In five of the previous six editions of this event, the tournament has been won by former Challenge Tour players. Wiesberger was preceded by Matt Wallace (2018), Julian Suri (2017), David Horsey (2015) and Marc Warren (2014).
In addition, Himmerland Golf & Spa Resort also hosted the 2018 edition of the Made in Denmark Challenge, won by Dane Joachim B. Hansen – who features in the field this week.
Inside the field
A strong field of European Tour winners make their way to Denmark – including Richard Bland, who makes his first appearance after ending a long wait for a maiden victory on his 478th attempt at the Betfred British Masters hosted by Danny Willett.
Among those to watch this week is Calum Hill. The 26-year-old has finished inside the top 14 in seven of his last 11 starts on Tour – including tied eighth at the Betfred British Masters. He also boasts a scoring average of 68.34 in 2021, which is the best of any player who has played 20 or more rounds this season, and his most recent Challenge Tour win came in Denmark in 2019.
Meanwhile, Robert MacIntyre and Andy Sullivan are two of several players who posted top tens at The Belfry before competing at the US PGA Championship last week. Following his tie for 49th at Kiawah Island, MacIntyre will hope to find the same form he had at Himmerland in 2019 – where he finished second to Wiesberger.
Wiesberger, also in the field at Kiawah, is one of three former champions in the field this week, joining Julian Suri and David Horsey, who won the first edition of the tournament in 2014.
U.S. Open Qualification
Made in HimmerLand presented by FREJA marks the second of three events on the European Tour schedule which form a qualifying series for the 2021 U.S. Open at Torrey Pines. This replaces traditional qualifying for a second year in a row due to the continued impact of the Covid-19 pandemic.
Following his recent victory at The Belfry, Richard Bland currently tops the list which will see the top ten aggregate Race to Dubai points earners (not otherwise exempt) earn their place in the field for the third Major of the year.
The qualification series is made up of the following events: The Betfred British Masters hosted by Danny Willett (May 12-15), the Made in HimmerLand presented by FREJA (May 27-30) and the Porsche European Open (June 3-6).
Fantasy Race to Dubai
The European Tour’s Fantasy Race to Dubai continues in Denmark this week, and it’s never too late to sign up.
Players can create their own six-man team and compete in Private Leagues, Weekly Top Ten Challenges and Head to Head competitions, with prizes given out weekly and across the season.
Unsure who to pick? Our Fantasy Golf Experts Kit Alexander and Sophie Walker have you covered as they explain who they favour in this week’s edition of Ones To Watch, (click here to read).
