Thomas Pieters will return to the scene of his maiden European Tour victory when the Belgian defends his D+D REAL Czech Masters title next week.
Last year, the 23 year old announced his name on the world stage with a three-shot victory over Sweden’s Pelle Edberg at Albatross Golf Resort.
Pieters proceeded to double his trophy haul in his next appearance just two weeks later at the KLM Open to prove that he is one of European golf’s most promising young talents, an impression which he underlined by eventually finishing 29th in The 2015 Race to Dubai.
As he returns to the Prague venue for a third consecutive time, the Antwerp player is looking forward to reliving those precious memories of entering the winners’ enclave for the first time as a professional.
“Winning your first tournament is always special, so I’m excited about going back to defend my title at the Czech Masters,” said the University of Illinois alumnus, who beat Jordan Spieth and Patrick Cantlay to win the NCAA Division I Golf Championship in his first year in the USA collegiate circuit.
“It’s a great course, and it obviously holds some very special memories for me. It was just great to know I could do it – even if I never won another tournament for the rest of my career, I knew I would always be a European Tour champion.”
Pieters is joined by a very strong field, which includes the inaugural winner Jamie Donaldson. Two years ago, the Welshman arrived in Prague under pressure to perform in order to secure his place in Paul McGinley’s European team for The 2014 Ryder Cup.
He duly obliged, as the 40 year old clinched his third European Tour title to seal a place at Gleneagles, where he famously struck the winning shot as Europe claimed a 16½-11½ victory.
Lee Westwood, who formed a formidable partnership alongside Donaldson at that Ryder Cup, is set for a debut at the D+D REAL Czech Masters as the Englishman aims to impress this year’s Captain, Darren Clarke, and rubber-stamp a tenth appearance at golf’s most famous team event.
Westwood is joined by his fellow Ryder Cup-chasing compatriots, three-time European Tour winner Andy Sullivan and Matthew Fitzpatrick - who finished in third place at this event last year - with both players currently occupying the final two respective automatic qualification spots.
Frenchman Victor Dubuisson will also return to Albatross Golf Resort, having made his debut last year, as he attempts to rekindle the form which earned him a maiden appearance at the last Ryder Cup.
