High-flying Dutchman Daan Huizing has not taken long to get to grips with professional golf after a glittering amateur career, and is confident of continuing his rapid rise as he embarks on a maiden European Tour campaign this season.
Having burst onto the Challenge Tour scene in the summer of 2013 with some strong displays, namely a tie for second at his first event, the Kärnten Golf Open presented by Mazda, he quickly found the winning formula which earned him a big reputation in the unpaid ranks.
First up was the Northern Ireland Open Challenge presented by Clannah & XJET, where he held off former Ryder Cup star Oliver Wilson in extra holes to claim a maiden title at Galgorm Castle Golf Club & Estates.
Not one to rest on his laurels, Huizing then returned in equally fine form a fortnight later at the inaugural Kharkov Superior Cup, and once again took top spot en route to assuring himself of European Tour action in 2014 thanks to a sixth place finish in the Challenge Tour Rankings.
Needless to say, the 23 year old Dutchman is fired up for a maiden season dining at European golf’s top table. He is most excited about plying his trade amongst the greats of the game, and seeing how his so far ample talent stacks up against those at the highest level.
“I’m looking forward to my first year on The European Tour,” said the former World Amateur Number Two. “Especially the courses, as they are always in top shape from what you see and hear, and the competition too. To play against the best players and to be in the top league, that is what has driven me on the Challenge Tour this season and put a real incentive into the competition.
“It gives you the incentive to work on your game, feeling like you always need to improve things, and now I’m excited to work hard and see where I need to improve.
“I feel very ready for it though, I’ve played a few KLM Opens and have made the cut a few times without playing that great, so that gives me some confidence already. I like to play on tougher courses too, and this year at the harder venues I did better, so I think my game is fine to survive next year.”
Huizing clearly talks a good game and there is no doubting the confidence that emanates from the prodigious young talent, fully aware of the magnitude of his successes so far, and it is no wonder.
In a stellar 2011, when he nearly topped the World Amateur Golf Ranking, he claimed two of the more prestigious titles in the game by astounding margins – the Royal Lytham Trophy by 14 shots and the St Andrews Links Trophy by 11 – while also representing his country on countless occasions.
Upon turning professional the following season, his progress has also been swift, and he joins compatriot Joost Luiten on The Race to Dubai this season looking to emulate the three time European Tour champion by doing one thing which certainly has not eluded him thus far in his career – winning titles.
“It is great to see what Joost has been doing this year,” said the man with a degree in Economics. “I really hope I can start winning soon as well, and then it will be nice to have two of us and hopefully we can push each other on and get a Dutchman in The Ryder Cup and play the Olympics together. Those are the things you look forward to.”
He may be a rookie, but Huizing looks to be a man in a hurry, and he is undoubtedly one of the rookies to keep an eye on as The 2014 Race to Dubai gathers pace.
