Joost Luiten will be hoping to give the home fans plenty to cheer about this week as he leads the Dutch challenge at this week’s KLM Open.
The 26 year old has been in consistent form throughout the summer since his runner-up finish in the ISPS Handa Wales Open and, buoyed by his third round 63 in last week’s Omega European Masters, Luiten will be hoping to become the first home winner since Maarten Lafeber in 2003.
A return to Hilversumsche Golf Club, where he finished sixth a year ago, and the support of the fans is something he is clearly looking forward to in his bid for a second European Tour title.
“It’s always a week we look forward to as Dutch players,” said Luiten, whose sole victory to date came at the Iskandar Johor Open last year. “There is always a lot of attention for us. It is a great week with a lot of spectators and I always hope to play well in this event.
“I like the course. I did well here last year and finished sixth, but I just love playing in front of the home crowd. They are always behind the Dutch players and it would be nice to do well for them. Hopefully my game is in good shape and I can perform well for them.”
On current form, Luiten, who also finished second in 2007 looks a sound bet to end the nine-year wait for a home winner as he approaches the week in confident mood.
“I had a great round on the Saturday last week, seven under the best of the day, so I will take some confidence from that,” he said. “You always take a lot of positives when you have a round like that. On the other hand this is a totally different course and a new week, so there is no guarantee that I will do well again. I feel as though I can shoot low again though. I did so last week, so why not again in front of the home fans.”
