SUNDAY AUGUST 30, 2015 – D+D REAL CZECH MASTERS
THOMAS PIETERS
• His first European Tour International Schedule victory in his 48th European Tour event.
• Moves to 447,766 points in The Race to Dubai.
• Could move into the top 140 of the Official World Golf Ranking from 245th.
• His victory beats his previous best European Tour performance of tied second in the 2014 Open de España, losing out in a play-off to Miguel Angel Jiménez.
• Becomes the tenth first-time winner of the 2015 European Tour season. They are: Andy Sullivan (South African Open Championship Hosted by the City of Ekurhuleni), Gary Stal (Abu Dhabi HSBC Golf Championship), Anirban Lahiri (Maybank Malaysian Open), Trevor Fisher Jnr (Africa Open), Jordan Spieth (Masters Tournament), Wu Ashun (Volvo China Open), Byeong Hun An (BMW PGA Championship), Rickie Fowler (Aberdeen Asset Management Scottish Open), Roope Kakko (Madeira Islands Open – Portugal – BPI) and Thomas Pieters (D+D REAL Czech Masters).
• This victory beats his previous best 2015 European Tour performance of tied fourth in the Abu Dhabi HSBC Golf Championship.
• Victory comes in his second appearance in the D+D REAL Czech Masters.
• This victory beats his previous best finish in the D+D REAL Czech Masters of tied 85th, in missing the cut in 2014.
• Becomes the third Belgian player to win in European Tour history. They are: Philippe Toussaint (1974 Benson and Hedges Festival), Nicolas Colsaerts (2011 Volvo China Open and 2012 Volvo World Match Play Championship) and Thomas Pieters (2015 D+D REAL Czech Masters).
OTHER FACTS
• Becomes the youngest Belgian to win in European Tour history, aged 23 years and 215 days.
• This beats the previous record of Philippe Toussaint, who was 25 years and 48 days when he won the 1974 Benson and Hedges Festival.
• Led going into the final round by one shot. Is the 19th winner this season to have led or shared the lead going into the final round.
• Is leading going into the final round for the second time during his European Tour career. The first was the 2014 Open de España, where he finished tied second.
• The fourth Belgian victory in European Tour history.
• Becomes the fourth player this season aged 23 or under to win on The European Tour. They are: Jordan Spieth (21 at the Masters Tournament and U.S. Open Championship), Gary Stal (22 at the Abu Dhabi HSBC Golf Championship), Byeong Hun An (23 at the BMW PGA Championship) and Thomas Pieters (23 at the D+D REAL Czech Masters).
• Gains a European Tour exemption until the end of 2016.
• Gains his largest European Tour prize of €166,660.
• Gains his first win as a professional.
