In ten-pin bowling, a Turkey is when a player hits a strike three times in a row. And for the Turkish Airlines Open, they too will be hoping for yet another strike in this, their third year, after two breakthrough performances in the first two editions.
With 78 players keen to get their hands on the first Final Series trophy of the season, we take a look back at two players who kick-started their careers with wins at this event.
In 2013, then ranked outside the top 100 and having not won in 46 European tour starts, Victor Dubuisson arrived in Turkey for the first time. The young Frenchman took the lead during the second round and never looked back, carding rounds of 67-65-63-69 to hold off the likes of Tiger Woods, Justin Rose and Henrik Stenson and win by two shots.
I don't know how to describe it. It was the longest day on the course that I've ever had. I'm very proud of what I did. - Victor Dubuisson
It was the start of a memorable 12 months for the 23 year old as he notched eight top ten finishes in 2014, including four runner-ups, and then went unbeaten in his debut at The Ryder Cup.
I really believe he’s the next superstar coming out of Europe. Watch out for him. - Graeme McDowell
A year after Dubuisson’s breakthrough win a young American made his first appearance in Turkey, and made a similar impact.
Brooks Koepka, a graduate from the Challenge Tour, was enjoying a solid rookie campaign in 2014 when he qualified for the Final Series and arrived in Turkey. Despite opening rounds of 69 and 67 he found himself six shots back from Ian Poulter. Armed with one of most impressive long games on Tour, Koepka fired a final round 65 to win his first European Tour title by a single shot.
It’s a special week obviously, these four events and The Race To Dubai are ones you prepare for all year, and to win one of them is very special. - Brooks Koepka
Koepka went on to finish inside the top ten in The 2014 Race To Dubai and followed it up with top 20 finishes at each of the 2015 Majors. While he is not in the field this week to defend his trophy, many young players in the field will be keen to emulate the successes of both Koepka and Dubuisson.
So what are the keys to victory?
While they possess very different demeanors, Dubuisson and Koepka’s games were very similar when they won the Turkish Airlines Open.
Both averaged 300 yards or more off the tee while hitting less than 55 per cent of fairways for the week. Despite the apparent lack of accuracy off the tee, both ranked inside the top five for the week in Greens in Regulation.
Between them, Dubussion and Koepka made just one bogey over their last 54 holes combined. Impressive work from a pair of Turkish Airlines Open rookies!
Among the first-timers teeing it up this week, players like Thomas Pieters, Lucas Bjerregaard, Matt Fitzpatrick and Byeong-hun An will hope to match the success of the event’s first two winners.
