Robert Karlsson and Lee Westwood, the two Belgacom Open champions since the tournament came on stream in 1998, return to the superb course of Royal Zoute this week to contest the third edition of the event.
Karlsson, who narrowly missed out on automatic qualification for the Ryder Cup at The Country Club the previous month, ended the season on a high note by lifting the title by a single shot from Jamie Spence and Retief Goosen with a 12 under par total of 272.
The 6ft 5in Swede ended a two year wait to collect his third European Tour title thanks to impressive rounds of 69, 68, 69, 66 and said: "It is a moment worth savouring - I hope it won't be another two years until my next win!"
However the year 2000 has been frustrating for Karlsson, who is just outside the top 100 in the Volvo Order of Merit and he is hoping that the return to the bracing sea air of Knokke-le-Zoute on the Belgian coast will have a suitable inspiring effect.
Westwood won the first Belgacom Open title in 1998 after a sudden-death play-off with Fredrik Jabobson of Sweden, and he is joined in the chase for Ryder Cup points by five of the 1999 European team who came so close to victory in Boston.
Colin Montgomerie, Darren Clarke, José Maria Olazábal, Andrew Coltart and Padraig Harrington will all be in Belgium along with the 1999 team captain, Mark James.
Westwood, 14th in his defence of the Belgacom title, can expect stiff competition from Montgomerie, who did not sample the delights of Royal Zoute in the past two seasons.
Björn, named Asprey & Garrard Golfer of the Month in August following a succession of outstanding displays in Europe and the United States, made a strong start to his bid to regain Ryder Cup status by finishing second to Eduardo Romero in the Canon European Masters recently.
Romero, who became the European Tour's oldest winner since 1992 with his remarkable ten stroke victory in Crans-Sur-Sierre, also brings his considerable personality to the Belgacom Open.
First round tee-times