The DP World Tour returns this week with the ISPS Handa Championship in Spain at Infinitum’s Lakes Course, in Tarragona. Here are five things to know about the first of two new tournaments taking place over consecutive weeks in Spain…
Start of four-week stretch on European soil
The ISPS Handa Championship in Spain is the first of four events in succession to take place on European soil between the season’s first two Major Championships – the Masters at Augusta National Golf Club and the US PGA Championship at Southern Hills.
Next week, the Catalunya Championship will be held at PGA Catalunya Golf and Wellness, in Girona, before the Betfred British Masters hosted by Danny Willett at The Belfry is followed by the Soudal Open in Belgium.
The two new tournaments in Spain were added to the schedule in February and take the place of the ISPS HANDA - CHAMPIONSHIP in Japan and the Volvo China Open due to the ongoing travel restrictions caused by the Covid-19 pandemic.
New event. Familiar venue.
Infinitum, formerly known as Lumine Golf, is home to three golf courses, including two 18-hole layouts: The Lakes Course, stage of this week’s tournament, and the Hills Course.
The resort, rebranded last summer, hosted the DP World Tour’s Final Stage of Qualifying School from 2017-2019 after it succeeded PGA Catalunya as host venue five years ago.
Previously, it was a Second Stage Qualifying venue for Tour hopefuls from 2012-2016.
As such it has helped play a role in many players’ professional careers, with DP World Tour winners Daniel Gavins and David Law set to return to the Lakes Course having won the second stage qualifier in 2015 and 2016 respectively.
The Course
The 6,963-yard par-70 course works its way through the Sequia Major, a collection of 14 lakes and wetlands that represent one of the most important eco-systems in the region.
Now that the 518-yard second is due to play as a par four, rather than a par five as previously in Qualifying School, the course has just two par fives; The 595-yard 16th is joined by the short 493-yard 18th which could result in opportunities for shifts in momentum over the closing holes.
The front nine features seven par fours, including the potentially driveable third and fifth holes which both measure just inside of 340 yards.
The field
No fewer than six winners on this season’s DP World Tour are playing this week in Catalonia: Commercial Bank Qatar Masters champion Ewen Ferguson; Pablo Larrazábal, who won a play-off at the MyGolfLife Open in South Africa; Ashun Wu, winner of the Magical Kenya Open; Ras al Khaimah Classic champion Ryan Fox; Nicolai Højgaard, who won his second Tour title at the Ras al Khaimah Championship; Thriston Lawrence, who won the Joburg Open last November.
Bernd Wiesberger, one of the tournament favourites, will aim to add Spain to his resume of countries to win a DP World Tour title in, having recorded his eighth and most recent Tour success at the Made in HimmerLand in Denmark last May.
Alejandro Cañizares, winner of Q-School Final Stage at this venue in 2018, is among a host of Spanish players in the field who will hope to be inspired to victory by the home crowds.
Fantasy DP World Tour
The new-look Fantasy DP World Tour made its return in time for the Masters Tournament and this week’s ISPS Handa Championship in Spain marks the second event in the game’s season.
Fans from all over the world can take each other on predicting the top six players each event week of the Tour’s schedule.
For those not already signed up it is not too late to create an account and try to catch the early pace setters – for all the details on how to do so head here.
With an array of prizes up for grabs, including a full set of Callaway golf clubs, golf bag and custom fitting for the overall winner, don’t miss out on taking part!
