Belgian Open (golf)

Last updated
Soudal Open
Belgian Open (golf) logo.png
Tournament information
Location Antwerp, Belgium
Established1910
Course(s)Rinkven International Golf Club
Par71
Length6,924 yards (6,331 m)
Tour(s) European Tour
Format Stroke play
Prize fund US$2,000,000
Month playedMay
Tournament record score
Aggregate266 Lee Westwood (2000)
To par−18 as above
Current champion
Flag of Sweden.svg Simon Forsström
Location Map
Belgium relief location map.jpg
Icona golf.svg
Rinkven International GC
Location in Belgium

The Belgian Open is a men's golf tournament which has been played intermittently from 1910 to 2000. All editions since 1978 have been part of the European Tour. After not having been played since 2000, it returned in 2018 as the Belgian Knockout, hosted by PietersProductions, along with its co-founder, Belgian professional golfer Thomas Pieters. With a prize pool set at €1 million, 144 professional golfers start the competition with 36 holes of stroke play, followed by 9-hole match play for the top 64 finishers from the stroke play rounds. [1] [2]

Contents

History

The first ever Belgian Open was played at the Royal Golf Club of Belgium, featuring 36 holes. It was not until 1928 that the competition format expanded to 72 holes. The first edition of the tournament was won by Arnaud Massy, the only Frenchman to win a major championship. Other distinguished champions included Walter Hagen, Henry Cotton, José María Olazábal, Nick Faldo and Lee Westwood. Belgium's most successful 20th century golfer, Flory Van Donck, won his home open five times between 1939 and 1956.

In 2018, PietersProductions took over the organisation of the Belgian Open. After an absence of 18 years, they brought the Belgian Open back to the European Tour. The Belgian Open was reintroduced under the name Belgian Knockout.

The first edition of the Belgian Knockout, which was the 53rd edition of the Belgian Open, took place from 17 to 20 May 2018 at Rinkven International Golf Club, Schilde, Antwerp. In the final, the Spaniard Adrián Otaegui won against Frenchman Benjamin Hébert after four match days. David Drysdale took third place after winning against James Heath.

In 2021, it was announced that the tournament would make a return in 2022 and would revert to a stroke play event. It was sponsored by Soudal, and renamed as the Soudal Open. [3]

Format in 2018 and 2019

There are two rounds of stroke-play on the first two days. The top 64 and ties are credited with prize money and are declared to have advanced under Tour rules. However, in case of a tie for 64th place, there is a playoff if players are tied for 64th place to determine who advances to the knockout stages. Players eliminated in the playoff earn 65th place prize money and are credited with making the cut ("MDF").

In the knock-out stage there are six rounds, each match being over nine holes of stroke-play. Players are seeded based on their position after 36 holes. On the first day of knockout there are three rounds. Half the players use the front nine holes, the other half use the back nine. If the two players are tied after 9 holes there is a sudden-death playoff. There is also a 3rd/4th place playoff. Placings for those who didn't reach the semi-finals are decided firstly by the knockout round reached and, for those who lost in the same round, on their score in the opening 36 holes.

Two major changes will be implemented in 2019 for the event. In order to remove a potential advantage/disadvantage that may happen with some groups, the 144 players are now grouped in two sections of 72 players each. One section plays on the first morning and the second afternoon, the other on the first afternoon and second morning. The top 32 players qualify from each section, each section having a separate playoff if required. The second change applies to the first knockout round. The top 16 players will earn an advantage headed to the first knockout round. If their first-round match is tied after nine holes, they automatically advance.

Winners

YearWinnerScoreTo parMargin of
victory
Runner(s)-upVenueRef.
Soudal Open
2023 Flag of Sweden.svg Simon Forsström 267−171 stroke Flag of Sweden.svg Jens Dantorp Rinkven International
2022 Flag of England.svg Sam Horsfield 271−132 strokes Flag of New Zealand.svg Ryan Fox
Flag of Germany.svg Yannik Paul
Rinkven International
2020–21: No tournament
Belgian Knockout
2019 Flag of Italy.svg Guido Migliozzi −3 [lower-alpha 1] 4 strokes Flag of the Netherlands.svg Darius van Driel Rinkven International
2018 Flag of Spain.svg Adrián Otaegui −3 [lower-alpha 1] 2 strokes Flag of France.svg Benjamin Hébert Rinkven International
2001–2017: No tournament
Belgacom Open
2000 Flag of England.svg Lee Westwood (2)266−184 strokes Flag of Argentina.svg Eduardo Romero Royal Zoute
1999 Flag of Sweden.svg Robert Karlsson 272−121 stroke Flag of South Africa.svg Retief Goosen
Flag of England.svg Jamie Spence
Royal Zoute
1998 Flag of England.svg Lee Westwood 268−16Playoff Flag of Sweden.svg Freddie Jacobson Royal Zoute
1995–1997: No tournament
Alfred Dunhill Open
1994 Flag of England.svg Nick Faldo 279−5Playoff Flag of Sweden.svg Joakim Haeggman Royal Zoute
1993 Ulster Banner.svg Darren Clarke 270−142 strokes Flag of England.svg Nick Faldo
Flag of Fiji.svg Vijay Singh
Royal Zoute
Piaget Belgian Open
1992 Flag of Spain.svg Miguel Ángel Jiménez 274−103 strokes Flag of England.svg Barry Lane Royal Zoute
Renault Belgian Open
1991 Flag of Sweden.svg Per-Ulrik Johansson 276−12Playoff Flag of England.svg Paul Broadhurst Royal Waterloo
Peugeot-Trends Belgian Open
1990 Flag of Sweden.svg Ove Sellberg 272−164 strokes Flag of Wales (1959-present).svg Ian Woosnam Royal Waterloo
Volvo Belgian Open
1989 Flag of England.svg Gordon J. Brand 273−114 strokes Flag of England.svg Kevin Dickens Royal Waterloo
1988 Flag of Spain.svg José María Olazábal 269−154 strokes Flag of the United States.svg Mike Smith Royal Bercuit
1987 Flag of Ireland.svg Eamonn Darcy 200 [lower-alpha 2] −131 stroke Flag of England.svg Nick Faldo
Ulster Banner.svg Ronan Rafferty
Flag of Wales (1959-present).svg Ian Woosnam
Royal Waterloo
Belgian Open
1980–1986: No tournament
1979 Flag of South Africa (1928-1982).svg Gavan Levenson 279−53 strokes Flag of South Africa (1928-1982).svg Bobby Cole
Flag of England.svg Nick Faldo
Flag of England.svg Michael King
Royal Waterloo
1978 Flag of Australia (converted).svg Noel Ratcliffe 280−121 stroke Flag of Australia (converted).svg Chris Tickner Royal GC Belgium
1959–1977: No tournament
1958 Flag of England.svg Ken Bousfield 2713 strokes Flag of Argentina.svg Antonio Cerdá Royal GC Belgium [4]
1957 Flag of England.svg Bernard Hunt 280Playoff Flag of Wales (1959-present).svg Dai Rees Royal Latem [5]
1956 Flag of Belgium (civil).svg Flory Van Donck (5)2698 strokes Flag of Spain (1945-1977).svg Ángel Miguel Royal Latem [6]
1955 Flag of Wales (1959-present).svg Dave Thomas 2901 stroke Flag of Belgium (civil).svg Arthur Devulder Royal GC des Fagnes [7]
1954 Flag of Wales (1959-present).svg Dai Rees 2871 stroke Flag of Italy.svg Aldo Casera
Flag of Australia (converted).svg Norman Von Nida
Royal Antwerp [8]
1953 Flag of Belgium (civil).svg Flory Van Donck (4)2709 strokes Flag of France (1794-1815, 1830-1958).svg Henri de Lamaze (a)Royal Waterloo [9]
1952 Flag of Argentina.svg Antonio Cerdá 2864 strokes Flag of South Africa (1928-1982).svg Brian Wilkes Royal GC des Fagnes [10]
1951 Flag of France (1794-1815, 1830-1958).svg Albert Pélissier 2795 strokes Flag of Belgium (civil).svg Flory Van Donck
Flag of Egypt (1922-1958).svg Hassan Hassanein
Royal Latem [11]
1950 Flag of Argentina.svg Roberto De Vicenzo 2824 strokes Flag of Argentina.svg Antonio Cerdá Royal Zoute [12]
1949 Flag of Scotland.svg Jimmy Adams 2832 strokes Flag of England.svg Max Faulkner Royal GC des Fagnes [13]
1948 Flag of Scotland.svg Willie Forrester 288Royal GC Belgium
1947 Flag of Belgium (civil).svg Flory Van Donck (3)283Royal GC des Fagnes
1946 Flag of Belgium (civil).svg Flory Van Donck (2)2894 strokes Flag of Scotland.svg Willie Forrester Royal Waterloo
1940–1945: No tournament due to World War II
1939 Flag of Belgium (civil).svg Flory Van Donck 2911 stroke Flag of England.svg Max Faulkner Royal GC Belgium [14]
1938 Flag of England.svg Henry Cotton (3)27713 strokes Flag of England.svg Arthur Lacey Royal Waterloo [15]
1937 Flag of France (1794-1815, 1830-1958).svg Marcel Dallemagne (2)2854 strokes Flag of Wales (1807-1953).svg Dai Rees Royal Zoute [16]
1936 Flag of France (1794-1815, 1830-1958).svg Auguste Boyer (2)2851 stroke Flag of England.svg Henry Cotton Royal GC des Fagnes [17]
1935 Flag of England.svg Bill Branch 283Playoff Flag of Belgium (civil).svg Flory Van Donck Royal GC Belgium [18]
1934 Flag of England.svg Henry Cotton (2)2793 strokes Flag of England.svg Percy Alliss Royal Waterloo [19]
1933 Flag of France (1794-1815, 1830-1958).svg Auguste Boyer 2823 strokes Flag of England.svg Henry Cotton Royal GC des Fagnes [20]
1932 Flag of England.svg Arthur Lacey (2)2912 strokes Flag of France (1794-1815, 1830-1958).svg Auguste Boyer Royal GC Belgium [21]
1931 Flag of England.svg Arthur Lacey 3011 stroke Flag of France (1794-1815, 1830-1958).svg Marcel Dallemagne
Flag of France (1794-1815, 1830-1958).svg Pierre Hirogoyen
Royal GC des Fagnes [22]
1930 Flag of England.svg Henry Cotton 28111 strokes Flag of England.svg Archie Compston Royal GC Belgium [23]
1929 Flag of South Africa (1928-1982).svg Sid Brews 3001 stroke Flag of Jersey (pre 1981).svg Aubrey Boomer Royal Antwerp [24]
1928 Flag of England.svg Albert Tingey Jr. 2973 strokes Flag of England.svg Jack Taylor Royal GC Belgium [25]
1927 Flag of France (1794-1815, 1830-1958).svg Marcel Dallemagne 140Royal Zoute
1926 Flag of Jersey (pre 1981).svg Aubrey Boomer (2)1379 strokes Flag of Jersey (pre 1981).svg Percy Boomer Royal Zoute [26]
1925 Flag of France (1794-1815, 1830-1958).svg Eugène Lafitte (2)1421 stroke Flag of England.svg Arthur Havers Royal Antwerp [27]
1924 Flag of the United States.svg Walter Hagen 1433 strokes Flag of Jersey (pre 1981).svg Aubrey Boomer Zoute
1923 Flag of Jersey (pre 1981).svg Percy Boomer 1451 stroke Flag of Jersey (pre 1981).svg Aubrey Boomer Royal GC Belgium [28]
1922 Flag of Jersey (pre 1981).svg Aubrey Boomer 1501 stroke Flag of the Isle of Man.svg Charles Corlett
Flag of France (1794-1815, 1830-1958).svg Marius Cavallo
Royal GC Belgium [29]
1921 Flag of France (1794-1815, 1830-1958).svg Eugène Lafitte 14510 strokes Flag of England.svg George Pannell Royal GC Belgium
1920 Flag of England.svg Rowland Jones 154Playoff Flag of Jersey (pre 1981).svg Aubrey Boomer
Flag of England.svg Henry Burrows
Zoute [30]
1915–1919: No tournament due to World War I
1914 Flag of England.svg Tom Ball (2)1444 strokes Flag of England.svg Charles Mayo Royal Antwerp [31]
1913 Flag of England.svg Tom Ball 1451 stroke Flag of Scotland.svg James Braid Lombardsijde [32]
1912 Flag of Scotland.svg George Duncan 144Playoff Flag of England.svg Tom Ball
Flag of Jersey (pre 1981).svg Ted Ray
Royal GC Belgium [33]
1911 Flag of England.svg Charles Mayo 1443 strokes Flag of France (1794-1815, 1830-1958).svg Arnaud Massy Royal GC Belgium [34]
1910 Flag of France (1794-1815, 1830-1958).svg Arnaud Massy 1395 strokes Flag of Scotland.svg Sandy Herd
Flag of England.svg Harry Vardon
Royal GC Belgium [35]

In 1957 Hunt (137) beat Rees (145) by 8 strokes in a 36-hole playoff. In 1935 Branch (145) beat Van Donck (149) by 4 strokes in a 36-hole playoff. In 1912 Duncan (70) beat Ray (71) and Ball (78) in an 18-hole playoff, played the same evening.

Notes

  1. 1 2 Between 2018–19, the event used a knockout format. This is the score in the final.
  2. Shortened to 54 holes due to rain.

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Bob Charles (golfer)</span> New Zealand professional golfer

Sir Robert James Charles is a New Zealand professional golfer who won the 1963 Open Championship, the first left-handed player to win a major championship. He won the 1954 New Zealand Open as an 18-year-old amateur and made the cut in the same event in 2007, at the age of 71. His achievements over that period, in which he won 80 tournaments, rank him as one of the most successful New Zealand golfers of all time. He is, along with Michael Campbell, one of only two New Zealanders to win a men's major golf championship.

Stroke play is a scoring system in the sport of golf. In the regular form of stroke play, also known as medal play, the total number of strokes is counted over one or more rounds of 18 holes. In a regular stroke play competition, the winner is the player who has taken the fewest strokes over the course of the round, or rounds. Other forms of stroke play include Stableford, whereby points are gained based on hole scores, maximum score, in which there is a limit to the number of strokes that may be taken on each hole, and par, where holes are won or lost against a target score on each hole.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Tony Jacklin</span> English professional golfer (born 1944)

Anthony Jacklin CBE is an English golfer. He was the most successful British player of his generation, winning two major championships, the 1969 Open Championship and the 1970 U.S. Open. He was also Ryder Cup captain from 1983 to 1989; Europe winning two and tying another of these four events.

The Irish Open, currently titled as the Amgen Irish Open for sponsorship reasons, is a professional golf tournament on the European Tour.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">David Graham (golfer)</span> Australian professional golfer

Anthony David Graham, AM is a retired professional golfer from Australia. He won eight times on the PGA Tour. He is the only Australian male golfer to win two different men's major golf championships. Graham participated on the Australian teams that won the World Cup in 1970 and the Alfred Dunhill Cup in 1985 and 1986. He is inducted into the World Golf Hall of Fame.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Ted Ray (golfer)</span> English professional golfer (1877–1943)

Edward Rivers John Ray was a British professional golfer, one of the leading players of the first quarter of the 20th century. He won two major championships, the Open Championship in 1912 and the U.S. Open in 1920, and contended in many others. He was captain of the British team in the inaugural Ryder Cup, in 1927.

The German Open was a men's golf tournament. It was first staged in 1911 when the winner was Harry Vardon. The following year the champion was another of the Great Triumvirate of late 19th and early 20th century British golfers, John Henry Taylor. The tournament was then not played again for over a decade. It was played each year from 1926 to 1939; Percy Alliss won five times in this era, Auguste Boyer four times and Henry Cotton three.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">John Jacobs (English golfer)</span> English professional golfer

John Robert Maurice Jacobs, OBE was an English professional golfer, coach, entrepreneur, writer and administrator. He was inducted into the World Golf Hall of Fame in 2000.

The PGA Seniors Championship is a European Senior Tour golf tournament for men aged fifty and above. It was founded in 1957 and became part of the European Senior Tour on its founding in 1992. It was not held in 2016 or 2017 but returned in 2018 as the Staysure PGA Seniors Championship.

Brian George Charles Huggett, is a Welsh professional golfer. He won 16 events on the European circuit between 1962 and 1978, including two after the formal start of the European Tour in 1972. In 1968 he won the Harry Vardon Trophy for leading the Order of Merit and he was in third place in 1969, 1970 and 1972. He won 10 times on the European Seniors Tour between 1992 and 2000, including the 1998 Senior British Open.

Brian J. Waites is an English professional golfer. Although he turned professional in 1957, he played little top-level golf for the next 20 years, but then has considerable success, winning twice on the European Tour, five times on the Safari Circuit and playing in the 1983 Ryder Cup. After reaching 50 he had further success as a senior, winning the PGA Seniors Championship twice, and winning four times on the European Senior Tour.

Peter Joseph Butler was an English professional golfer. He was one of the leading British golfers of the 1960s and early 1970s. He won a number of important tournaments including the 1963 PGA Close Championship and the 1968 French Open. He played in four Ryder Cup matches between 1965 and 1973 and three times in the World Cup. He played in the Open Championship 23 times, with two top-10 finishes, and seven successive times in the Masters from 1964 to 1970.

The English Men's Open Amateur Stroke Play Championship for the Brabazon Trophy is the national amateur stroke play golf championship in England. It has been played annually since 1947 and is organised by the England Golf.

The 1921 Open Championship was the 56th Open Championship, held 23–25 June at the Old Course in St Andrews, Scotland. Former local Jock Hutchison won his only Open Championship, in a 36-hole playoff over amateur Roger Wethered. It was Hutchison's second and final major title.

The 1933 Open Championship was the 68th Open Championship, held 5–8 July at the Old Course in St Andrews, Scotland. Denny Shute defeated fellow American Craig Wood by five strokes in a 36-hole Saturday playoff to win his only Open title, the first of his three major championships. The Ryder Cup was held in late June at Southport and Ainsdale Golf Club in North West England, and the members of the American team played in the championship, similar to four years later in 1937.

The 1948 Open Championship was the 77th Open Championship, held 30 June to 2 July at Muirfield in Gullane, East Lothian, Scotland. Henry Cotton, age 41, won his third and final Open title, five strokes ahead of runner-up and defending champion Fred Daly.

The 1949 Open Championship was the 78th Open Championship, held 6–9 July at Royal St George's Golf Club in Sandwich, Kent, England. Bobby Locke of South Africa won the first of his four Open titles in a 36-hole playoff, twelve strokes ahead of runner-up Harry Bradshaw of Ireland. It was the first playoff at the Open since 1933.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Jens Dantorp</span> Swedish professional golfer

Jens Morgan Dantorp is a Swedish professional golfer who currently plays on the European Tour. He has won three times on the Challenge Tour and was runner-up at the 2023 Soudal Open.

The PGA Assistants' Championship is a golf tournament for golf club assistant professionals. It is held by the British PGA. The first championship was held in 1930 but earlier national tournaments for assistant professionals had been held since 1910.

Michael Moran was an Irish professional golfer, the leading Irish golfer of his generation. He won the Irish Professional Championship five years in succession from 1909 to 1913 before moving to England and being ineligible to compete in 1914. He played in the Open Championship from 1909 to 1914 with a series of high finishes. He finished joint third in 1913 despite a disastrous 89 in the third round which included a 10 at the first hole. He died in France in 1918 at the age of 31.

References

  1. "Thomas Pieters to host Belgian Knockout in 2018". European Tour. 25 September 2017. Archived from the original on 28 April 2018. Retrieved 27 April 2018.
  2. "Belgian Knockout Tournament History". European Tour. Archived from the original on 28 April 2018. Retrieved 27 April 2018.
  3. "European Tour Set To Return To Belgium In 2022 With Soudal Open". Golfmagic. 14 April 2021. Archived from the original on 7 August 2021. Retrieved 7 August 2021.
  4. "Belgian Open title for Bousfield". The Times. 11 July 1958. p. 4.
  5. "Rees and Hunt tie for first place". The Times. 27 May 1957. p. 3.
  6. "Belgian Open". The Times. 11 June 1956. p. 3.
  7. "British golf win". The Glasgow Herald. 13 August 1955. p. 2.
  8. "Belgian Open golf title for Rees". The Times. 19 July 1954. p. 3.
  9. "Belgian Open championship". The Times. 12 August 1953. p. 9.
  10. "Belgian Open championship". The Times. 11 August 1952. p. 4.
  11. "British open golf championship". The Glasgow Herald. 7 August 1951. p. 2.
  12. "Ostend, July 24". The Times. 25 July 1950. p. 7.
  13. "Adams wins in Belgian". The Times. 15 August 1949. p. 6.
  14. "The Belgian Open championship". The Times. 12 August 1939. p. 4.
  15. "Cotton wins Belgian "Open"". The Glasgow Herald. 14 July 1938. p. 2.
  16. "Belgian Open title for Dellamagne". The Glasgow Herald. 23 July 1937. p. 4.
  17. "The Belgian Open championship". The Times. 11 August 1936. p. 6.
  18. "Belgian Open championship". The Times. 9 July 1935. p. 7.
  19. "Cotton wins the Belgian Open". The Glasgow Herald. 15 August 1934. p. 7. Archived from the original on 31 March 2024. Retrieved 9 December 2016.
  20. "Boyer wins Belgian Open championship". The Times. 9 August 1933. p. 5.
  21. "Lacey wins Belgian championship". The Times. 20 June 1932. p. 6.
  22. "Belgian Open championship". The Times. 22 July 1931. p. 6.
  23. "Belgian championship". The Times. 30 June 1930. p. 4.
  24. "Belgian Open championship". The Times. 1 June 1929. p. 5.
  25. "Belgian championship". The Times. 19 June 1928. p. 7.
  26. "Belgian Open golf championship". The Times. 14 July 1926. p. 6.
  27. "Belgian Open golf championship". The Times. 5 October 1925. p. 16.
  28. "Golf". Le Gaulois (in French). 30 June 1923. p. 5. Archived from the original on 22 March 2023. Retrieved 22 March 2023 via Retro News.
  29. "Golf - Belgian open championship". The Times. 3 July 1922. p. 19.
  30. "Golf - Belgian professional championship". The Times. 14 July 1920. p. 6.
  31. "Belgian Open golf championship - Tom Ball's victory". The Times. 13 July 1914. p. 13.
  32. "Belgian Open championship - Victory of Tom Ball". The Times. 18 October 1913. p. 13.
  33. "Open championship of Belgium - Victory of Duncan". The Times. 6 July 1912. p. 13.
  34. "Belgian Open championship - Victory of C.H. Mayo". The Times. 1 June 1911. p. 14.
  35. "Open championship of Belgium - Victory of Arnaud Massy". The Times. 3 June 1910. p. 18.

51°16′51″N4°34′25″E / 51.2807°N 4.5737°E / 51.2807; 4.5737