The European Swing returns this week as the DP World Tour heads to Belgium for the Soudal Open. Here are your five things to know.
Elvira defends
Nacho Elvira carded a gutsy level-par 71 to hold on and claim his second DP World Tour title at the Soudal Open 12 months ago after a dramatic afternoon at Rinkven International Golf Club. The Spaniard entered the final day with a four-shot advantage and quickly extended that to five but at the finale found himself on the 18th green at 18 under watching playing partner Niklas Nørgaard stand over a birdie putt to force a play-off. The Dane, however, missed his 12-footer, leaving Elvira to celebrate a one-shot victory, with Frenchman Romain Langasque and home favourite Thomas Pieters in a share of second. "I'm very happy," he said. "I was a little bit emotional because I know all the hard work that I put in that sometimes doesn't show. I couldn't ask for anything better."
Back in the Swing of things
After a week's break for the US PGA Championship, the European Swing picks back up in Belgium. With just one event played so far at the Turkish Airlines Open, the champion at Regnum Carya Martin Couvra is the man to catch. But with five events to go including this one, it is still all to play for. The winner of the Swing will earn entrry into every event in Phase Two of the Race to Dubai - the Back 9 - along with a US$200,000 bonus, while there is also an exemption into the Genesis Scottish Open at play.
Football stars set to light up Pro-Am
Belgian stars have lit up the DP World Tour in recent years but they have also been thrilling on the football pitch and one of our host nation's all-time greats will be teeing it up in the Pro-Am this week. Eden Hazard was a Champions League and two-time LaLiga winner with Real Madrid and a two-time Premier League winner with Chelsea, as well as scoring 33 goals for a Belgium side that were long-time leaders of FIFAs World Rankings. Dutch great Ruud Gullit is also crossing the border to play in what will be a star-studded affair.
Ryder Cup heroes on show
Only two Belgians have ever played in the Ryder Cup and both of those home heroes are in the field this week. Nicolas Colsaerts was the first at the Miracle of Medinah in 2012, winning a point in the opening day fourballs alongside Lee Westwood. Thomas Pieters then followed him four years later, claiming four points from five as a rookie, with three of them coming as part of formidible duo with Rory McIlroy in a losing effort. Another Ryder Cup history-maker in Francesco Molinari, who became the first European to claim five points from five in 2018, makes his frst appearance since the Team Cup in January. His brother Edoardo - who will assume his vice captaincy duties at the Ryder Cup again later this year - is another in the field this week.
Inside the field
Fresh from qualifying for the U.S. Open via Final Qualifying at Walton Heath, if you can be after playing 36 holes in one day, all eight players who sealed spots at Oakmont Country Club make the trip to Belgium. Among those are England's Jordan Smith and Italian trio Guido Migliozzi, Edoardo Molinari and Andrea Pavan. Recent first-time DP World Tour winners Martin Couvra and Marco Penge are also both in action, with 14 winners so far this season teeing it up. Matteo Manassero and Thriston Lawrence make welcome returns to the DP World Tour after focusing on their PGA TOUR playing opportunities earlier in the campaign. Algot Kleen, a 22-year-old Swedish golfer, will make his professional debut after receiving an invite.
