The Danish Golf Championship holds its tenth edition this week as one of the DP World Tour's most popular events looks to create more magical moments.
In 2014, the then-titled Made in Denmark made its debut on the DP World Tour, quickly establishing itself as a fan-favourite event, with the very short par-three 16th at Himmerland - which became known as Himmerland Hill - becoming one of the most famous holes on the schedule.
Since then it has had eight winners from six countries, with Austrian Bernd Wiesberger the only player to win it twice.
Now, as a new era begins at Lübker Golf Resort, we take a look back at a decade of the Danish Golf Championship.
2014 - Impressive weekend hands Warren inaugural title
Marc Warren came into the 2014 season off the back of a career-high finish on the Race to Dubai and was enjoying an excellent summer with a third-placed finish at the Scottish Open, a top 40 at The Open and a tie for 15th at the US PGA Championship in his last three starts when he arrived in Denmark.
On day three, the Scot defied gusts of up to 30mph to card a remarkable five-under-par 66 for a share of the overnight lead with Bradley Dredge. He capitalised on slightly lighter winds during the final round to shoot five birdies in a calm round of 68 for a competition score of nine under. He was pushed all the way to his third title and first since winning the 2007 Johnnie Walker Championship by Dredge, who went round in 70 for seven under overall.
“It feels incredible,” said Warren. “I felt the last couple of years I’ve been close to winning a couple of times but for whatever reason it hasn’t quite happened for me, whether I’ve made mistakes or someone else has played really well. This summer I feel more confident than I’ve ever done. Today I kept telling myself I was swinging the club really well and I was confident in what I was doing.”
More than 80,000 fans attended over the course of the week as the seeds were sown for the future of the event.
2015 - Horsey shows staying power for fourth title
David Horsey capitalised on a stunning opening 63 to claim a wire-to-wire win in 2015 but the event was making headlines for other reasons as well, as the reputation of the 16th grew.
This was the year that Andreas Hartø proposed to his wife Louise after birdieing the hole and the season that it played a record-breaking 79 yards in the final round.
Horsey had held a seven-shot lead at one point in round three but entered Sunday just one ahead and was knocked off top spot briefly before moving two ahead once again on a nip-and-tuck afternoon. He then almost-unbelievably three-putted the 16th from eight feet to leave himself with a one-shot lead on the final tee, making a par to sign for a 73 and take the title at 13 under.
"It's a kick-start really," he said. "I've been playing well for quite a few months now and not really been getting any results and not scoring particularly well so to come out with a bit more strategy and a bit more focus this week has paid off. I was a little bit disappointed with myself on 16, but managed to regroup and focus coming down those last couple of holes. I left myself a very tough putt on 17 but to par the last as well was perfect."
2016 - Pieters wins to help seal Ryder Cup debut
Thomas Pieters had entered the previous week's D+D REAL Czech Masters knowing he needed back-to-back wins to have a chance of making the Ryder Cup team automatically and while a runner-up finish in Prague ended those hopes, he knew a good week in Farsø could still leave him pole position for a Captain's Pick.
He played the first two rounds with Ryder Cup captain Darren Clarke and opened with a course record-equalling 62 before giving a masterclass in scrambling in a level-par 71 on Friday. On Sunday he showed incredible cool under pressure, shrugging off the distraction of a four-hour-and-15-minute weather delay to almost make a hole-in-one on the 16th and put his approaches on the 17th and 18th to close range for three closing birdies and a 17 under par total. That gave him a 65 and a one-shot win over Dredge, who had finished second and sixth in the previous two years.
"It's all about winning tournaments," said Pieters. "I'm really happy with this one. That was one of my goals, to just have one every year, just so you know you're improving and you can win. That's very important. I'm very, very happy."
Clarke handed Pieters a Captain's Pick and the Belgian went on to register four points on debut at Hazeltine.
2017 - Sensational Suri secures first title
Julian Suri was playing just his seventh DP World Tour event in Denmark having earned his place in the field via victory at the D+D REAL Czech Challenge on the European Challenge Tour and made the most of his chance.
The American entered the final day one shot behind 2015 champion Horsey but many eyes were on John Daly, with the popular two-time Major Champion a further stroke back.
A closing 71 saw Daly fall back but countryman Suri produced a flawless 64 to finish the week on 19 under and secure his first victory. Horsey was one stroke adrift of playing partner Suri as they stood at the 18th tee but finished four shots back in second after carding a disappointing triple-bogey at the last.
"I feel like my game belongs at the top of the game," said Suri. "This is definitely something I've worked for and kind of expected for a long time. But to finally come out and do it, especially after the string of good finishes this summer, is really special."
There were incredible scenes once again on the 16th as fans wore masks of Danish great Thomas Bjørn to mark his 500th appearance on tour.
Welcome to the 16th, @thomasbjorngolf. 🇩🇰 pic.twitter.com/2gY60G10ds
— DP World Tour (@DPWorldTour) August 24, 2017
2018 - Wallace prevails from dramatic play-off
Matt Wallace continued his meteoric rise in the game as he claimed a third win of the season and fourth in just 16 months.
He had started the 2017 season on the Challenge Tour but gained his card via a victory at the Open de Portugal and added titles at the Hero Indian Open and BMW International Open in 2018 to remarkably put himself in the mix for a Captain's Pick for the Ryder Cup.
The Englishman birdied five of his last six holes in a closing 67 to get to 19 under alongside countrymen Steven Brown, Jonathan Thomson and Lee Westwood before gains on both extra trips up the last handed him the trophy at Silkeborg Ry Golf Club. Brown and Wallace both put their approaches inside six feet on the first play-off hole for a pair of birdies before Wallace went even closer on the next with Brown only able to make a par.
“I set myself positions where I have to do things and, more often than not, I get it done," said Wallace. "I'm very fortunate to have done it when I needed to in a few tournaments now. When my back's against the wall, I don't shy away from pushing myself off there and trying to get the job done and I kept saying to myself at the end there, 'you can make this, you have done everything to be able to make this putt', and I did it. Super happy.”
Wallace did not get a place in the Ryder Cup team in Paris but it was an important week for qualification in Aarhus, with Thorbjørn Olesen earning an automatic place on the team.
2019 - Wiesberger victorious after battle with MacIntyre
Wiesberger missed seven months of the 2018 season due to a wrist injury but was back the winner's circle in just his 13th event since making his comeback.
The Austrian started the final day a shot clear of playing partner Robert MacIntyre but the duo could not be separated after 15 holes, with both men producing some stunning golf. Wiesberger hit a wonderful tee-shot to birdie the par-three 16th and, with MacIntyre going out of bounds off the 17th tee, the 33-year-old took a two-shot lead up the 18th. He then made a bogey on the last after finding a hazard off the tee to sign for a 66, a 14 under par total and a one-shot victory as his Scottish rival made a par.
"I didn't expect it at all, I had a rough year last year. Winning is never easy," said Wiesberger. "It's up there. Thinking about what was going on in the last year. I had so many great people helping me and getting me back to where I am right now. I've had so much support, it's been amazing, and I'm proud to pay it back that way. I'm so thankful to so many people who have been there for me in the last year."
For European Challenge Tour graduate MacIntyre, it was a second consecutive runner-up finish in just his 15th DP World Tour event.
2021 - Wiesberger goes back-to-back
There was no event in 2020 due to the Covid-19 pandemic but when the now-named Made in HimmerLand returned in 2021, it was Wiesberger who lifted the title again in emphatic style.
He had led after every round and, having started the final day with a one-shot advantage, dominated proceedings with eight birdies in a closing 64. That gave him a 21 under total and a five-shot victory over Italy’s Guido Migliozzi, who shot a closing 63.
Wiesberger’s triumph meant nobody had won more than his four titles on tour since the start of the 2019 season as he joined then World Number One Dustin Johnson on that mark.
“It’s unbelievable,” Wiesberger said. “I’ve had seven chances (to defend a title) – I wasn’t successful the first six. I’ve said it all week, I really like it here. Playing here is good for my confidence especially after a couple of tougher weeks, so it’s a special place for me. It brings out the best in me. I got it going when I needed to so really enjoyable.”
Wiesberger's eighth DP World Tour win helped earn him a Ryder Cup debut later in 2021 at Whistling Straits.
2022 - Wilson produces big finish to claim second tour title
There were emotional scenes as Oliver Wilson won his second DP World Tour title nearly 14 years after playing on a Ryder Cup team without a victory and nearly eight since he finally broke his duck at the Alfred Dunhill Links Championship.
Ewen Ferguson had looked on course to secure his third victory of the season after shooting a closing 66 to set the clubhouse target at 20 under par. But Wilson, playing in the final group, finished with a flourish in Farsø, holing from 66 feet at the 13th, 14 feet on the 16th and 64 feet at the 17th to leapfrog the Scot and take a one-shot lead to the 18th tee. He safely parred the last to sign for a 67, finish the tournament on 21 under par and return to the winner's circle once again.
Fighting back tears in his post-round interview, he said: "I was so confident. I knew I could get the job done. Everything I've done to this point to rebuild my game, I knew I could do it. And I was so in control, and I said I wasn't going to cry! I was so calm there. I almost enjoyed the last hole. It's pretty special. I'm so proud of myself. I feel like there's a lot ahead of me and I'm so pleased to get win number two. I guess 18 years' experience gets you to hang in there. And to get over the line, it feels good. It feels so good."
The Englishman would go on to secure his best finish on the Race to Dubai for 13 years.
2023 - Home hero Højgaard claims play-off glory
The vociferous Danish fans had made this event one of the most popular on tour as they turned out in huge numbers year after year and 12 months ago they were finally rewarded with a home winner as Rasmus Højgaard prevailed in a six-hole play-off.
He held off Nacho Elvira after coming from seven shots behind with a 64 to finish level with the Spaniard on 13 under. At the sixth extra hole, Elvira flew his second shot out of bounds into the practice grounds, leaving Højgaard to two-putt for a fourth DP World Tour victory.
“I’m speechless at the moment," Højgaard said afterwards. "To be fair, I didn’t think I’d end up in a play-off – it’s quite amazing. To win a home event, it’s amazing. It isn’t that long ago that I was one of those kids trying to get balls and signed gloves, so it’s cool to see them out here supporting us. This is better than I could ever dream of. We’ve wanted a Danish winner for so long now, so to be the first one to do it is amazing.”
