As a new dawn beckons for the Scandinavian Invitation, which will take place at Hills Golf & Sports Club in Gothenburg from August 22-25, we take a look at the key storylines you need to know ahead of the event.
A new era
This year marks the beginning of a new era for Sweden’s national open as it becomes the Scandinavian Invitation. This is the 29th edition of the event, which was previously known as the Nordea Masters and, prior to that, the Scandinavian Masters. This is also the second successive year the event will take place at Hills Golf & Sports Club, which hosted the European Tour for the first time last year.
Former World Number Ones
There is a glittering roll of honour in terms of previous winners of the Scandinavian Invitation, including five former World Number Ones, in addition to eight-time European Number One Colin Montgomerie, who triumphed in the first edition of the event in 1991, as well as 1999 and 2001). Nick Faldo (1992), Vijay Singh (1994), Lee Westwood (1996, 2000 and 2012), Adam Scott (2003) and Luke Donald (2004) are the former World Number Ones to taste success in Sweden.
Flying the flag
The Scandinavian Invitation holds the record for most Swedish victories in the same European Tour tournament. Jesper Parnevik, who also triumphed in 1997, was the first home winner of the event in 1995 and he has been followed by Joakim Haeggman (1997), Peter Hanson (2008), Richard S Johnson (2010) and Alex Noren (2011 and 2015) in tasting success on home soil. Noren will this week go in search of joining Montgomerie and Westwood as the competition’s only three-time winners, while 2016 Open Champion Henrik Stenson will attempt to win the event for the first time.
Record setter
The 29-year history of the event has witnessed a number of historic moments, including one involving former World Number One and 1992 Masters Tournament winner Fred Couples. The American, playing in the maiden edition of event in 1991 at Drottningholms Golfklubb, set the record for the most birdies in a single round, when he recorded 12 in his second round of 61 (-11). The record has since been equalled by six players (Ernie Els, Russell Claydon, Darren Clarke, Jeppe Huldahl and Raphaël Jacquelin) but not beaten.
On the tee
Ryder Cup stars Alex Noren and Henrik Stenson will tee it up as the marquee players this week as they go in search of victory on home soil. Two-time champion Noren will look to add a third Scandinavian Invitation title to his ten European Tour wins, while Stenson will hope to clinch his first professional victory in Sweden and take his overall tally to 12. Marcus Kinhult, the most recent Swedish winner on the European Tour after his success at the Betfred British Masters in May, will also tee it up in Gothenburg, while Rolex Series winners Matt Fitzpatrick, Brandon Stone and Chris Wood will compete in Sweden.
