David Horsey returns to defend his M2M Russian Open title this week at a new venue, Skolkovo Golf Club, which holds the honour of hosting the first tournament in the points race for the 2016 European Ryder Cup team.
The Englishman triumphed at Tseleevo Golf Club last year, holing out for a crucial eagle at the 17th hole to force a play-off with Damien McGrane, before overcoming the Irishman on the first extra hole to claim the third European Tour title of his career.
The 30 year old recently added a fourth title to his trophy cabinet by winning the Made in Denmark earlier this month, and so will return to Moscow this week in a confident mood.
One experienced winner who will also be attempting to earn a second victory at the M2M Russian Open is Michael Hoey, who romped to a four shot win and a fifth European Tour title in 2013.
Those former champions will have to contend with a new layout, however, at Skolkovo – a stunning parkland venue which is spread out over 100 hectares of land outside the Russian capital, Moscow.
Like the Tseleevo venue which hosted the 2013 and 2014 editions of this event, Skolkovo is a Jack Nicklaus Signature design, and boasts six large lakes and 113 strategically placed bunkers.
All of those players present this week will be hoping to steal a march in the race to make the European team for The 2016 Ryder Cup at Hazeltine National Golf Course.
This week’s event marks the start of Ryder Cup Rankings presented by Rolex, and former players Edoardo Molinari and Søren Hansen will both arrive in Moscow hoping to make a successful start.
SSP Chowrasia of India, Argentina’s Daniel Vancsik and Welshman Bradley Dredge are among the other multiple European Tour winners in the field while McGrane will be hoping to go one better than his runner-up finish last year and claim a second European Tour victory.
