The line-up of players for the second edition of the Soudal Open (DP World Tour event from May 11-14 at Rinkven Golf Club in Schilde) is taking shape. And how impressive does this look ! Thomas Bjorn, Edoardo Molinari will add some Ryder Cup flavour as vice-captain colleagues of Nicolas Colsaerts. Other exciting and flamboyant players Alexander Levy, Marcel Siem and Yannik Paul will also be a few of the renowned international golf stars who will compete alongside Belgian stars Colsaerts and Detry.
Thomas Bjorn, 15-time winner on the DP World Tour, is well known to so many golf fans. The same goes for Edoardo Molinari (3 DP World Tour titles), Alexander Levy and Marcel Siem (each 5 DPWT wins, Siem won the Indian Open only a few weeks ago) and not to mention Yannik Paul, last year’s Soudal Open runner-up who is one of the up-and-coming stars in the game, with a victory in Mallorca last year and two second place finishes this year (Indian Open & Thailand Classic).
Tournament Director Michael Jones said: “I think every single one of these players are a great addition to the field of players at the Soudal Open. I am convinced that we will once again have a fantastic event at Rinkven Golf Club, as many of the in-form players will make the trip to Belgium to try and qualify for the upcoming US Open. I can hardly wait to welcome them all”.
Thomas Detry and Nicolas Colsaerts are the top-two Belgian players, fitting nicely in that list of international renowned players. Unfortunately, Thomas Pieters’ choice to play the LIV-Tour won’t bring him to his home tournament this year.
Thomas Pieters: “As this year’s Soudal Open clashes with a LIV event, I sadly will be unable to participate. It will undoubtfully be a great tournament with an already amazing list of players and I’ll do my very best to be there in the future for the next editions.”
The Soudal Open’s tournament format remains unchanged: 156 players will tee it up on Thursday and Friday, with the top-65 (and tied) players advancing to the final rounds on Saturday and Sunday.
Much more to experience
The first edition last year received lots of positive feedback, not only from players and caddies, but also from a majority of the 18.000 visitors who praised their experience at the Soudal Open. Once again, visitors and golf fans will be able to see all the action up close, especially in the 18th hole large grandstand. But the Soudal Open is more than just watching the best of golf.
The 19th hole village will be the meeting point for spectators to gather, enjoy a wide offer of food and drinks and take part in all kinds of entertainment: from testing you own golf skills with nice prizes to be won to getting autographs signed by top-players. What is new this year is that all juniors aged 18 or under can enter for free with a junior ticket to be booked on www.soudalopen.be ! Cherry on the cake will be the golf party in that same 19th hole village on Saturday evening. It is free entrance to everyone as from 18:00!