Bernhard Langer, who claimed his 40th title on The European Tour International Schedule and with it a place in The European Ryder Cup Team at Noordwijkkse last year, returns to Holland this week to defend the TNT Open at Hilversumsche.
The 44 year old German is joined in the field by many of the players who helped create an extraordinary day of drama and tension in the final round of the 131st Open Golf Championship at Muirfield.
Gary Evans of England and Padraig Harrington will be competing over the inland venue which has hosted the tournament on numerous occasions during the 77 past editions of the event, which was inaugurated in 1919.
Evans was the player who effectively ignited the last day’s play at The Honourable Company of Edinburgh Golfers with his closing 65, featuring that remarkable par-saving putt on the 71st hole which almost earned him a place in the play-off.
Also taking part is Harrington, who finished tied with Evans on 279, one shot shy of the place-off after bogeying the final hole. Others in the top ten at Muirfield to make the trip to Holland are 2001 US Open Champion Retief Goosen of South Africa and Australian Peter O’Malley, who both finished in a tie for eighth place.
Apart from Goosen and Langer, other Major Champions in a high quality field are American John Daly, who missed the cut in the Open Championship, and Nick Faldo of England, who tied for 59th in East Lothian.
Aside from Langer the field includes five past winners of the TNT Open, all of whom triumphed at the superb tree-lined Hilversumsche course – Gordon Brand Jnr of Scotland, Australian Stephen Leaney, Welshman Mark Mouland, Sven Strüver of Germany and England’s Lee Westwood.
