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Belgian Open (golf)

(Redirected from Soudal Open)

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]

Soudal Open
Tournament information
LocationAntwerp, Belgium
Established1910
Course(s)Rinkven International Golf Club
Par71
Length6,924 yards (6,331 m)
Tour(s)European Tour
FormatStroke play
Prize fundUS$2,500,000
Month playedMay
Tournament record score
Aggregate266 Lee Westwood (2000)
266 Nacho Elvira (2024)
To par−18 as above
Current champion
Spain Nacho Elvira
Location map
Rinkven International GC is located in Belgium
Rinkven International GC
Rinkven International GC
Location in Belgium

After two years of no European Tour international tournament, the Soudal Open came in 2022. Soudal partnered with Rinkven and once again put on a top international event.

History

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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

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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

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Year Winner Score To par Margin of
victory		 Runner(s)-up Venue Ref.
Soudal Open
2024   Nacho Elvira 266 −18 1 stroke   Romain Langasque
  Niklas Nørgaard
  Thomas Pieters		 Rinkven International
2023   Simon Forsström 267 −17 1 stroke   Jens Dantorp Rinkven International
2022   Sam Horsfield 271 −13 2 strokes   Ryan Fox
  Yannik Paul		 Rinkven International
2020–21: No tournament
Belgian Knockout
2019   Guido Migliozzi −3[a] 4 strokes   Darius van Driel Rinkven International
2018   Adrián Otaegui −3[a] 2 strokes   Benjamin Hébert Rinkven International
2001–2017: No tournament
Belgacom Open
2000   Lee Westwood (2) 266 −18 4 strokes   Eduardo Romero Royal Zoute
1999   Robert Karlsson 272 −12 1 stroke   Retief Goosen
  Jamie Spence		 Royal Zoute
1998   Lee Westwood 268 −16 Playoff   Freddie Jacobson Royal Zoute
1995–1997: No tournament
Alfred Dunhill Open
1994   Nick Faldo 279 −5 Playoff   Joakim Haeggman Royal Zoute
1993   Darren Clarke 270 −14 2 strokes   Nick Faldo
  Vijay Singh		 Royal Zoute
Piaget Belgian Open
1992   Miguel Ángel Jiménez 274 −10 3 strokes   Barry Lane Royal Zoute
Renault Belgian Open
1991   Per-Ulrik Johansson 276 −12 Playoff   Paul Broadhurst Royal Waterloo
Peugeot-Trends Belgian Open
1990   Ove Sellberg 272 −16 4 strokes   Ian Woosnam Royal Waterloo
Volvo Belgian Open
1989   Gordon J. Brand 273 −11 4 strokes   Kevin Dickens Royal Waterloo
1988   José María Olazábal 269 −15 4 strokes   Mike Smith Royal Bercuit
1987   Eamonn Darcy 200[b] −13 1 stroke   Nick Faldo
  Ronan Rafferty
  Ian Woosnam		 Royal Waterloo
Belgian Open
1980–1986: No tournament
1979   Gavan Levenson 279 −5 3 strokes   Bobby Cole
  Nick Faldo
  Michael King		 Royal Waterloo
1978   Noel Ratcliffe 280 −12 1 stroke   Chris Tickner Royal GC Belgium
1959–1977: No tournament
1958   Ken Bousfield 271 3 strokes   Antonio Cerdá Royal GC Belgium [4]
1957   Bernard Hunt 280 Playoff   Dai Rees Royal Latem [5]
1956   Flory Van Donck (5) 269 8 strokes   Ángel Miguel Royal Latem [6]
1955   Dave Thomas 290 1 stroke   Arthur Devulder Royal GC des Fagnes [7]
1954   Dai Rees 287 1 stroke   Aldo Casera
  Norman Von Nida		 Royal Antwerp [8]
1953   Flory Van Donck (4) 270 9 strokes   Henri de Lamaze (a) Royal Waterloo [9]
1952   Antonio Cerdá 286 4 strokes   Brian Wilkes Royal GC des Fagnes [10]
1951   Albert Pélissier 279 5 strokes   Flory Van Donck
  Hassan Hassanein		 Royal Latem [11]
1950   Roberto De Vicenzo 282 4 strokes   Antonio Cerdá Royal Zoute [12]
1949   Jimmy Adams 283 2 strokes   Max Faulkner Royal GC des Fagnes [13]
1948   Willie Forrester 288 Royal GC Belgium
1947   Flory Van Donck (3) 283 Royal GC des Fagnes
1946   Flory Van Donck (2) 289 4 strokes   Willie Forrester Royal Waterloo
1940–1945: No tournament due to World War II
1939   Flory Van Donck 291 1 stroke   Max Faulkner Royal GC Belgium [14]
1938   Henry Cotton (3) 277 13 strokes   Arthur Lacey Royal Waterloo [15]
1937   Marcel Dallemagne (2) 285 4 strokes   Dai Rees Royal Zoute [16]
1936   Auguste Boyer (2) 285 1 stroke   Henry Cotton Royal GC des Fagnes [17]
1935   Bill Branch 283 Playoff   Flory Van Donck Royal GC Belgium [18]
1934   Henry Cotton (2) 279 3 strokes   Percy Alliss Royal Waterloo [19]
1933   Auguste Boyer 282 3 strokes   Henry Cotton Royal GC des Fagnes [20]
1932   Arthur Lacey (2) 291 2 strokes   Auguste Boyer Royal GC Belgium [21]
1931   Arthur Lacey 301 1 stroke   Marcel Dallemagne
  Pierre Hirogoyen		 Royal GC des Fagnes [22]
1930   Henry Cotton 281 11 strokes   Archie Compston Royal GC Belgium [23]
1929   Sid Brews 300 1 stroke   Aubrey Boomer Royal Antwerp [24]
1928   Albert Tingey Jr. 297 3 strokes   Jack Taylor Royal GC Belgium [25]
1927   Marcel Dallemagne 140 Royal Zoute
1926   Aubrey Boomer (2) 137 9 strokes   Percy Boomer Royal Zoute [26]
1925   Eugène Lafitte (2) 142 1 stroke   Arthur Havers Royal Antwerp [27]
1924   Walter Hagen 143 3 strokes   Aubrey Boomer Zoute
1923   Percy Boomer 145 1 stroke   Aubrey Boomer Royal GC Belgium [28]
1922   Aubrey Boomer 150 1 stroke   Charles Corlett
  Marius Cavallo		 Royal GC Belgium [29]
1921   Eugène Lafitte 145 10 strokes   George Pannell Royal GC Belgium
1920   Rowland Jones 154 Playoff   Aubrey Boomer
  Henry Burrows		 Zoute [30]
1915–1919: No tournament due to World War I
1914   Tom Ball (2) 144 4 strokes   Charles Mayo Royal Antwerp [31]
1913   Tom Ball 145 1 stroke   James Braid Lombardsijde [32]
1912   George Duncan 144 Playoff   Tom Ball
  Ted Ray		 Royal GC Belgium [33]
1911   Charles Mayo 144 3 strokes   Arnaud Massy Royal GC Belgium [34]
1910   Arnaud Massy 139 5 strokes   Sandy Herd
  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.

See also

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Notes

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

References

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  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.
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51°16′51″N 4°34′25″E / 51.2807°N 4.5737°E / 51.2807; 4.5737

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