• On his way to victory in 2006, Markus Brier became Austria’s first winner on The European Tour. In doing so, Austria became the 33rd different winning country in European Tour history. His first three professional victories were all in this event – 2002 and 2004 when the tournament was part of the European Challenge Tour.
• Brier is attached to the Fontana Golf Club, where the event was staged in 2006. He became only the second player in European Tour history to win and be attached to the course where the event was being played. The first player was Graeme McDowell, who was representing Kungsängen Golf Club en route to winning the 2002 Scandinavian Masters.
• German amateur Max Kramer made history in last year’s event by becoming the first amateur to record an albatross on The European Tour. He achieved the feat at Fontana’s ninth hole in round one, using a six iron from 180 yards.
• Four of the 156 strong field have won European or Challenge Tour events on Austrian soil. They are: Brier (2002, 2004 and 2006 BA – CA Golf Open presented by Telekom Austria), Rafael Cabrera-Bello (2006 MAN NÖ Open), Mark Davis (1991 and 1994 Austrian Open) and Erol Simsek (1997 Matchmaker Austria Open).
