The Kazakhstan Open has historically been a very important tournament on the European Challenge Tour, with its large prize fund – traditionally the highest of the season – tending to draw big performances from the top players on the Road to Oman.
Here we look at some of the key statistics ahead of the 13th staging of the tournament at Almaty’s Nurtau Golf Club.
One– the number of World Number Ones who have teed it up in Almaty. Martin Kaymer, who was World Number One for eight weeks in 2011, finished tied third in the 2006 Kazakhstan Open.
Two– the margin of victory for current Race to Dubai leader Tommy Fleetwood in 2011.
Two– the number of Major Champions who have played in the event – 2014 U.S. Open and 2010 US PGA Championship winner Kaymer competed in the tournament in 2006 while this year’s U.S. Open champion Brooks Koepka played in Almaty in 2012.
Four– the number of English players who have won the Kazakhstan Open, the most by any country. Since the competition’s first staging in 2005 there have been two Swedish winners, while Wales, Ireland, Scotland, France, Spain and Italy can all lay claim to one champion apiece.
Seven– the largest winning margin in Kazakhstan Open history, achieved by Sweden’s Johan Carlsson when he finished seven clear of the rest of the field at Nurtau in 2013.
Eight– the number of Challenge Tour tournaments that will have been staged at Nurtau Golf Club after this year’s edition of the Kazakhstan Open – Zhailjau has played host five times.
Nine– the number of Ryder Cup players who have competed in the Kazakhstan Open. Europe can lay claim to eight of those players – Ross Fisher (2005), Kaymer (2006), Jamie Donaldson (2007), Rafa Cabrera Bello (2006, 2008), Edoardo Molinari (2009), Nicolas Colsaerts (2009), Oliver Wilson (2013), Matt Fitzpatrick (2014), while the United States’ sole representative is Koepka (2013).
12– the number of years that the Kazakhstan Open has been part of the Challenge Tour schedule, making the tournament the fifth longest-running event on the Tour behind the Rolex Trophy, Barclays Kenya Open, Hauts de France Golf Open and the Swiss Challenge presented by ASG.
12– so far all 12 winners of the Kazakhstan Open have gone on to secure European Tour cards, such is the importance of the lucrative event.
17– under par, the average score achieved by the winner on the Kazakhstan Open. Historically Nurtau Golf Club has proved to be more difficult with the victor reaching 15 under par on average, while at Zhailjau Golf Club the mean score for the champion is 19 under par.
21– under par, the lowest winning score in Kazakhstan Open history, which was achieved by Alvaro Velasco when he triumphed by five shots at Zhailjau in 2010. The lowest winning score at Nurtau came from Carlsson in 2013 when he reached 18 under par after four rounds.
40,000– the number of Euros earned by Ireland’s Stephen Browne who won the inaugural Kazakhstan Open in 2005. This year’s champion will earn more than €70,000.
