Made in Denmark is renowned as one of the most enjoyable weeks on the European Tour. Here is the lowdown on the third edition of the tournament.
Rewind
David Horsey was on imperious form in Farsø 12 months ago as he galloped to a wire-to-wire victory, holding his nerve to finish two shots clear despite a late slip.
It was the Englishman’s fourth European Tour title and one which looked to be signed sealed and delivered as early as midway through the third round during which he briefly took a seven-shot lead, but a host of contenders made sure it was no easy ride for Horsey.
Chief among them was his final round playing partner Terry Pilkadaris, who was just one shot back at the beginning of the final day and moved into a share of the lead early on thanks to birdies at the second and sixth holes before finishing in a tie for second.
Kristoffer Broberg, meanwhile, rocketed up the leaderboard on Sunday courtesy of a stunning nine under par final round 62, but it was too little too late for the Swede.
The field
Although qualification for Europe’s Ryder Cup Team has already been finalised, this year’s Made in Denmark boasts its strongest field in the tournament’s history assembles at Himmerland Golf and Spa Resort this week.
Three Major winners, Darren Clarke, Martin Kaymer and YE Yang, head the field with the 2011 Open Champion from Northern Ireland taking one final opportunity to run the rule over some of his potential wild-card selections for his European team at Hazeltine.
Home favourite, Søren Kjeldsen who finished in a tie for second in the 2015 Made in Denmark, is among the players hoping make one final impression ahead of Clarke’s wild card picks next week, with former World Number One Kaymer and Ireland’s Shane Lowry targeting strong performances to catch the eye of the captain.
Horsey returns to defend his crown while the inaugural champion Marc Warren from Scotland is also in the field.
The course
The Backtee Course is one of three lay-outs at the Danish golfing haven of Himmerland and its most celebrated one, having officially re-opened in 2013 following one of the most extensive golf course renovations in Scandianian history.
Designed by renowned course architect Philip Spogárd, who also designed Carya Golf Club – host venue for this season’s Turkish Airlines Open – it sits 20km away from the city of Alborg in the exposed landscape of northern Jutland.
Although it’s not coastal, it is linksy and often windswept so the 7,033 yards can often feel longer, with the respective nine under and 13 under winnings scores in 2014 and 2015 proving it’s no walk-over.
Did you know?
· The first edition of Made in Denmark, played in 2014, marked the first time the European Tour had played an event in Denmark since 2003, when Ian Poulter won the Nordic Open at Simon’s Golf Club.
· David Horsey will be looking to defend a European Tour title for the first time. The last time an Englishman successfully won the same event in back-to-back years was Luke Donald (2011-2012 BMW PGA Championship).
· When Horsey won 12 months ago he became the third wire-to-wire winner of the 2015 season to lead with no ties in any round.
· Horsey’s 2015 Made in Denmark victory was the second successive time his European Tour victories came having lead from start to finish, following the 2014 M2M Russian Open.
· Prior to Made in Denmark’s first staging in 2014, the Himmerland Golf & Spa Resort was last used for European competition in 1998. It was the Navison Open Golf Championship on the European Challenge Tour, played between 1994-1998. Thomas Bjørn’s maiden Challenge Tour title came at the 1995 edition of the event, when it was called the Himmerland Open.
Thomas Bjørn was the leading Danish player in the 2014 Made in Denmark, finishing tied fourth. Other Danish players in the top ten were Lasse Jensen and Thorbjørn Olesen, both tying for seventh. In 2015 the highest placed home player was Søren Kjeldsen, who tied second.
