Ahead of the European Tour’s sole trip to Sweden this season, we give you the lowdown on the Nordea Masters.
Renato returns
You always remember your first, so the saying goes. At 20 years and 172 days old Renato Paratore became the youngest winner of the Nordea Masters, his first European Tour triumph, in the event’s 27-year history. The Italian returns to Sweden to try and achieve another record – to become the first player to successfully defend the title.
Swede success?
Home players have an outstanding record at the Nordea Masters. The tournament holds the record for most Swedish victories in the same European Tour event, with seven: Jesper Parnevik (1995 and 1998), Joakim Haeggman (1997), Peter Hanson (2008), Richard S Johnson (2010) and Alex Noren (2011 and 2015).
This week’s field boasts a strong contingent of Swedish players – including Alexander Björk and Joakim Lagergren, who have both secured their first European Tour titles this season.
Olesen’s Ryder Cup push
Arriving in Sweden with plenty to play for is Thorbjørn Olesen. Since winning the Italian Open in June the Dane has finished as a runner-up at the BMW International Open, inside the top ten at the Dubai Duty Free Irish Open, inside the top 15 at The Open Championship and tied third at the WGC-Bridgestone Invitational.
That run has propelled the 28 year old towards automatic qualification for Thomas Bjørn’s European side for The Ryder Cup, with Olesen currently sixth in the European Points list (you can find full rankingshere).
With valuable Ryder Cup points on offer this week expect another big performance from the man known as ‘Thunder Bear’.
Howell joins the 600 Club
One of the European Tour’s most respected and popular figures celebrates a special milestone this week.
Five-time European Tour winner David Howell will join an illustrious list when he becomes the tenth person to have made 600 appearances on the European Tour after Sam Torrance, Miguel Ángel Jiménez, Barry Lane, Colin Montgomerie, Roger Chapman, Paul Lawrie, Eamonn Darcy, Peter Baker and Malcolm Mackenzie.
Back to Gothenburg
For the first time in 16 years the Nordea Masters will be held in Gothenburg, on the west coast of Sweden, and Hills Golf Club will also play host to the event for the first time.
Set in the stunning Sandsjöbacka nature reserve, the golf course was designed by Arthur Hills and Steve Forrest and opened in 2005 before three-time European Tour winner Johan Edfors left his mark on the layout by re-designing six of the 18 holes in 2014.
