By Will Pearson, europeantour.com
in Zandvoort
For one reason or another, the rich and storied history of both Kennemer G&CC and the KLM Open has long been inextricably entwined with a host of Spanish golfing greats and their embryonic steps into the European Tour winners’ circle.
Raven-haired, olive-skinned, full of youthful exuberance and boundless talent, it is 39 years since Severiano Ballesteros won the first of what would become 50 European Tour victories across a glittering, legendary career – a string of triumphs that began at the KLM Open and at this very venue in the Dutch seaside town of Zandvoort.
Just a couple of months after springing to global prominence withthat performance in The 1976 Open Championship, when a swashbuckling Seve finished runner-up to Johnny Miller at Royal Birkdale, Ballesteros romped to a maiden European Tour title at Kennemer in just his 27th start, beating Howard Clark by eight shots in the Netherlands.
He was following in familiar footsteps by winning here, too, with Seve’s 1976 coup coming five years after his Uncle, Ramon Sota, added the second of his two Dutch Opens, both claimed at Kennemer, too.
Seve liked this course, Olly liked this course and I like it.
Miguel Angel Jimenez
Aged just 19 years and 121 days, Seve’s win would prove to be the first of three career KLM Open victories – a trio of triumphs which would further pave the way for later Spanish success.
Thirteen years on from Seve’s maiden victory, his great friend and compatriot Jose Maria Olazabal would follow suit, winning his sixth European Tour title at Kennemer following an epic, unbelievable play-off battle.
After Roger Chapman was eliminated at the first extra hole, Olazabal and Ronan Rafferty went a further eight before the 1994 and 1999 Masters champion took the title – all the more remarkably – with a double bogey six. The marathon play-off remains the longest in European Tour history.
As well as Gonzalo Fernandez-Castano, who won his first European Tour title at the KLM Open in 2005 – albeit at Hilversumsche and not Kennemer, Miguel Angel Jimenez claimed his second European Tour win at this event in 1994 and came very close to making that two – and another Spanish Kennemer victor – two years ago when he missed out in a play-off with home hero Joost Luiten.
“It’s hard to say exactly why we seem to have done well here but all I can say is that they are great players and can play well on any course,” reflected Spaniard ‘El Mecanico’, evergreen, ever popular, back on Tour after a three week holiday in his native Malaga.
“Seve liked this course, Olly liked this course and I like it. It’s true when you see it and it’s very fair. That’s probably why they like it – and they win here. I like it too but I haven’t won here – yet.
“It is a great golf course. There’s always a breeze here and it’s a good set-up. All the holes you need to play very straight from the tee and keep the ball in play. It’s good because it suits everyone, as long as you hit it in the right place.
“It’s linksy but it’s softer. When it’s hard you need to be even more precise with your shots. I prefer it when it’s hard because it’s more rewarding for the good shots. But there’s been a lot of rain last week and we will play it as we find it.”
Looking to continue the gilded family history in Kennemer this week, Javier Ballesteros is also in the Netherlands as an invite and is acutely aware of the Spanish associations with the old club and respected tournament.
“I think for my father, he always played well on links golf courses and this one has a lot of those characteristics too so that might be the reason for his success,” says Ballesteros junior.
“I don’t know if we can say any particular reason for the other Spaniards who have done well here, just that there are many good Spanish players.
“It was obviously very special for my father to win for the first time, just 19 years, and this place was important to him throughout his career. He came back here a lot even in his later years when he wasn’t playing so well so you could say it had a special place in his heart.
“For me though, I will just try to enjoy the week as I always do. Try to learn from the great players around me and keep progressing.”
Javier was chosen by the tournament organisers to present a gift to Kennemer to say thank you for hosting the KLM Open for the last three years running, namely a mould of his father’s hands on a grip bought from the Seve Foundation to commemorate the Pedrena icon’s strong associations with the club.
Another Spaniard in with a chance of emulating the achievement of Seve by making the KLM Open his first European Tour victory, Santander’s Nacho Elvira is back as a full European Tour member this week after his third win of the season on the Challenge Tour at August’s Rolex Trophy secured instant promotion.
Elvira, who also prevailed in the Challenge de Madrid and Karnten Golf Open, had a stellar campaign on the Challenge Tour, highlighted by this memorable albatross in the Spanish capital in April.
“It’s a great tournament and a great venue,” says Elvira, who has quickly regained his card after finishing 121st in The Race to Dubai in his first European Tour campaign last year.
“I’m excited to be back, to see all the guys again and hopefully I can calm down and do well over the next few days.
“The lessons I learned from my first stint on The European Tour was the need to be patient, let myself play golf like I know I can. Perhaps this year and next, with a full schedule confirmed, I will be able to progress more.
“Just being able to compete at this, the best level in Europe with the best guys, is something that excites me a lot.”
Whatever the reason for the swathes of Spanish success at Kennemer and in the KLM Open over the years, it's fair to say the likes of Miguel, Javier, Nacho, plus other Iberian peninsula-bred stars such as Rafa Cabrera-Bello, Alejandro Canizares and Alvaro Quiros will be hoping for more of the same this week in the Netherlands.
Vamos!
