The 2022 Dutch Open returns to Bernardus Golf for the second year running with several of this season’s DP World Tour winners in the field.
Two-time winner Joost Luiten leads the home contingent in Cromvoirt, while fellow former champions Thomas Pieters and Ashun Wu are also in action as Kristoffer Broberg defends the title he won in September – but who will be crowned champion this time?
If you haven’t already, you can sign up now to the official Fantasy Game of the DP World Tour and submit your six-man team before round one on Thursday: https://fantasy.dpworldtour.com/
Favourite – Thomas Pieters
The Belgian, who is the highest-ranked player in the field at 36th on the Official World Golf Ranking, won his maiden Rolex Series title at the Abu Dhabi HSBC Championship and finished tied 12th at the Slync.io Dubai Desert Classic at the start of the year.
The 30-year-old could have been forgiven for showing signs of rust when he made his return to action at the Soudal Open, after a four-week break following The Masters, but he recorded a top ten finish on home soil.
Despite the Dutch Open changing venues over recent years, Pieters has made the cut in each of his five appearances, including two top tens since his victory in 2015.
Form horse – Thorbjørn Olesen
The former Ryder Cupper ended a near four-year wait for his sixth DP World Tour title with a dramatic victory at the 2022 Betfred British Masters hosted by Danny Willett earlier this month.
Olesen produced an eagle-birdie finish in both the third and final rounds to return to the winner’s circle and as a result the 32-year-old is set to qualify for next month’s U.S. Open through the European Qualifying Series.
The Dane, who is making his first appearance at the Dutch Open in seven years, also made the cut in the three events leading up to his victory at The Belfry.
Dark horse – Darius Van Driel
Having opened in 2018, Bernardus Golf is a new venue for many professionals and staged the Dutch Open for the first time last year – but Van Driel has plenty of course knowledge.
The home player, whose best finish so far this season was a share for 33rd at the Catalunya Championship, practices at the club’s facilities and will hope to improve on finishing in a share of fourth place last year.
The 32-year-old is chasing a maiden DP World Tour win and could become the seventh Dutch winner of their home national Open this week.
