Ryder Cup places on the line at KLM
BY Bruce Young | European PGA Tour | 2008 KLM Open | Preview | 20 Aug 2008
With just two weeks for potential members of Nick Faldo’s Ryder Cup side to prove their worth, the KLM Open in Zandvoort in the Netherlands takes on a whole new meaning.
Justin Rose is playing this week in preference to the Barclays in the US where there is clearly a lot more money on offer but not the prized spot in a Ryder Cup team. It is likely that Rose has no concerns given that he is currently 8th on the list but he is determined to cover all options in his quest to be on the team.
Oliver Wilson, Soren Hansen and Martin Kaymer are others battling for one of the ten automatic places for the Ryder Cup in Valhalla next month. There will, however, be others who feel big performances this week and next week at the Johnnie Walker Classic at Gleneagles could assist their chances of forcing their way into the team or alternatively attracting Captain Faldo’s eye for the remaining two places on the team.
Henrik Stenson has no such concerns as his position on the team is well and truly confirmed and playing with that freedom will assist the very much inform golfer. The world number six has played beautifully in recent weeks including a 4th at the PGA and 3rd at the Open Championship. On this links golf course, albeit a soft one due to recent rain, he should do well.
Rose finished 9th at the PGA Championship, a significant improvement on his earlier form. He is definitely one of the class players in the field and on that basis alone must be considered.
Martin Kaymer has not done well since his win at the BMW in Germany in June but as one of the most exciting players on the European Tour he could well bounce back.
Ross Fisher is not only the defending champion of this event and at this venue, but he has taken his game to another level this year as a result of his victory at the European Open. He has not done well since then but he is back on a golf course where he has such good memories following his maiden European Tour victory last year so he might be inspired to a better week.
Surely Soren Kjeldsen will finish an event off well soon. He has been in contention on many occasions of late but has not won since his maiden and only European Tour victory at the Diageo Championship at Gleneagles in 2003. He is likely to be around contention again but there appears a question mark about his capacity to get across the line.
The Australians in the field are Peter O’Malley, Marcus Fraser, Matthew Millar and Peter Fowler.
