By Mathieu Wood
Belgian rising star Adrien Dumont De Chassart says it will be an immense source of pride to make his first appearance on home soil as a professional at this week’s Soudal Open.
Almost a year on from winning on his professional debut on the Korn Ferry Tour, the 24-year-old will make just his third DP World Tour start in the paid ranks at the first event of the European Swing on the Race to Dubai schedule.
De Chassart, who finished third in the 2023 PGA TOUR University ranking behind winner Ludvig Åberg, recorded a record six consecutive top tens on the Korn Ferry Tour as he went on to seal his PGA TOUR card.
His form in turn put him in consideration for one of Luke Donald's Captain's Picks at last year's Ryder Cup, making appearances at the D+D Real Czech Masters and Omega European Masters in the two weeks leading up to the selections being announced.
But with a victory in Switzerland, it was Åberg who earned his way into the team.
Such is his undoubted talent, the performance of De Chassart will inevitably draw great intrigue, particularly with Ryder Cup-winning skipper Donald also in action this week.
"I am really excited," he told the DP World Tour. "I have been thinking about it for the last few months.
"Something you always want to be able to play growing up is a professional tournament in front of a home crowd. It is really going to be exciting just to be here playing in front of my family and friends."
While household names and fellow countrymen Nicolas Colsaerts and Thomas Pieters are also in this week's field, De Chassart is part of a newer generation of Belgian golfing talent that also includes DP World Tour rookie Matthis Besard.
This will mark his second competitive appearance at this week's host venue Rinkven Golf Club, having missed the cut at the Belgian Knockout as an amateur in 2018 at the age of 18.
"It has been a while. I don’t remember much about it [the course]," he reflected.
"I just know it is a short type of course and very narrow. I am pretty sure the key this week is just going to be on the fairway and just make some key putts."
Since making his first start as a full PGA TOUR member in Hawaii at the start of the year, De Chassart initially struggled - either side of a top ten in Puerto Rico - but in recent weeks has seen some encouraging signs in his game with no worse than a tie for 40th in his last three starts.
Such are his high standards, despite his relative inexperience at the top table of men's professional golf, he is aiming high.
"It has been a little slow, I am not going to lie," he said of his rookie season so far on the PGA TOUR.
"I feel like I have finally set foot on the PGA TOUR. I am finally getting my game where it is supposed to be. The last few weeks have been better for sure.
"I am just going to need a strong push towards the end of the year but I am looking forward to it.
"One of my goals at the start of the year was to win on the PGA TOUR so that is still out there. That is probably the main goal and will probably solve a lot of problems as well."
