Jorge Campillo was flying high after the first round of the KLM Open at Bernardus Golf in Cromvoirt, Netherlands, as he rolled in 10 birdies on his way to a nine-under 63 and a three-stroke lead.

The Spaniard started hot with four birdies on the trot from the 11th hoe (his second) and kept up the momentum to lead the field trailing. Andy Sullivan, Joël Stalter and Pablo Larrazábal were Campillo’s nearest challengers on six-under after their 66s.

Home favourite Joost Luiten was in the large group another shot back alongside Englishmen Dale Whitnell and John Parry, Spaniards Alejandro del Rey and Adrian Otaegui, India’s Shubhankar Sharma and Thailand’s Kiradech Aphibarnrat.

? Clubhouse Lead ?@jcampillogolf with a brilliant 63 ?#KLMOpen

— DP World Tour (@DPWorldTour) May 25, 2023

Campillo said: “I played solid really. I hit it great, hit the driver fairly well, missed a few fairways here and there but hit great iron shots and only made one bogey.

“I was 30 feet from birdie but hit it 60 feet past the hole – but overall I played really solid.

“I keep doing the same things. I’m hitting my irons really well, the driver is a little inconsistent but on this golf course, it lets you play from off the fairway as well.

“I putted great today, which I didn’t do in Belgium, so it was a nice day.”

The post Campillo flies to the top at KLM Open appeared first on Golf Digest Middle East.

The Australian has been struggling with injury and illness this season, including a bout of COVID-19 last week.

But now he is looking to get back to the form that has seen him claim 10 Asian Tour tournaments and the 2016 Order of Merit title.

Hend was certainly showing those signs of old at the Dutch Open, where he was one off the lead after the third round before finishing in a tie for 14th. This was after missing the cut in all six events he has competed in on the Asian Tour this year.

My caddie Dave asked me on the 36th hole today…

"When was the last time U played 72 holes?"

I replied…. "What U mean in a fortnight"???‍????‍#golflife #ItHappens #JustSayn #YesSir #AboutTime

— Scott Hend (@hendygolf) May 27, 2022

Hend has been fighting prostrate cancer for over a year, caught the flu a few weeks ago before picking up COVID-19 early last week.

“I have had a lot of injuries this year,” said Hend.

“It’s nice to turn the corner last week, and hopefully start to put some results together. Catching COVID last week wasn’t the perfect formula, but we battled through it. I was lucky I could play because the only symptom I was showing was testing positive. The last six holes every day I was struggling because of a lack of energy. Hopefully we can play good again this week and have a good result.”

The Australian continues to battle prostate problems but has been making good progress.

“It’s a work in progress, it’s a man problem.  As you get older … prostate issues … something that I can control but I can’t control,” he said.

“For a year and a half, urinating blood and struggling to urinate on the golf course is obviously not ideal for playing good golf. I should have been operated on earlier. I had bad information from a specialist, but I saw another specialist and he said do it straight away as you are struggling. Having those sorts of things on your mind doesn’t help.

“It’s been really tough times and I have worked really hard to get back. Certain things became a little bit more important than others. From an outsider looking in you just think it is just someone playing bad golf but there is a lot more to it. Golf is a massive part of my life but so is living.”

Hend last won on the Asian Tour at the 2019 Maybank Championship and is now determined to get back on track.

“I want to start playing well again, I want to start winning again, I want to improve my world ranking, I want to compete against all these guys again and show them I can still play,” he said.

“I want to finish my career with as many wins as I can. That’s why I am out here, to play and win trophies. I like to think I can be competitive this week and be up there on Sunday.”

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The post Asian Tour: Scott Hend on the mend ahead of International Series England appeared first on Golf Digest Middle East.

Perez entered the day in a share of the lead but found himself three shots back on the 17th tee as the in-form Fox put on an impressive display.

Hover, it all came apart on the last as a double-bogey from Kiwi Fox saw him sign for a 68 and he left the door open for Perez, who birdied the penultimate hole to head down the par-five 18th back in a share of the lead.

The 29-year-old had six feet to take the title on the final green but missed his putt to stay at 13-under after a 69 and we headed to extra holes for the third time in five events.

A 20-footer kept him in it as both men made a birdie on the first trip back up the 18th and after a pair of pars at the second attempt, he made another lengthy putt. But he was not done there, holing from over 40 feet at the 17th on the fourth play-off hole to seal victory with a birdie.

Perez also earns himself a spot at the 150th Open Championship this summer alongside Fox and Pole Adrian Meronk, with the top three players in the top 10 not exempt heading to St Andrews.

Meronk finished a shot out of the play-off after a 68, a score matched by German Marcel Schneider who finished at 11-under.

Swede Sebastian Soderberg and England’s Matt Wallace were at 10-under, two shots ahead of another Swede in Alexander Björk and Portugal’s Ricardo Gouveia.

“There was a fair amount of fortune, I’ve got to be honest with myself, holing out those long putts in the play-off,” said Perez.

“It’s kind of hard to put into words because it was such a long day and Ryan was off and flying for a while.

“We didn’t even really think we had a chance. Coming down 16 I knew I needed to birdie the last three because to eagle the 18th is almost impossible with the pin and the wind.

“James told me just don’t look at the board and then I holed the one on 17 to be able to come through and the play-off was just a bit of magic.

“I just tried to focus on me all day, that’s all I can do, is try to keep a champion mindset and hit good shot after good shot.

“The chips were going to fall where they were going to fall, it’s almost impossible to predict what is going to happen in golf: guys come out of nowhere and win tournaments and guys take huge leads.

“You just have to focus on you and not look at the board and I was just fortunate to fall on the right side today.”

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The post To the Victor go the spoils as Perez holds nerve at DP World Tour Dutch Open appeared first on Golf Digest Middle East.

In tough winds on the links-style layout, Perez signed for a 69 to set the target as he chases a second DP World Tour victory, only to see four-time winner Wallace birdie the last to complete a 70 and join him at 10-under.

In-form Kiwi Ryan Fox, who won recently in Ras Al Khaimah, Australian Scott Hend, Italy’s Guido Migliozzi and Swede Sebastian Soderberg were on nine-under, a shot clear of another Swede in Alexander Björk, Portugal’s Ricardo Gouveia and Pole Adrian Meronk.

The top 15 players were separated by just five shots, with 13 different nationalities represented within that top 15. As well as the trophy this week, the top three inside the top 10 not already exempt will earn a spot in the 150th Open Championship this summer, with Perez, Wallace and Fox currently set for St Andrews.

after his round, Wallace said: “That is what I kind of wanted to do. Start the day and try to get a bit closer to the leaders, and that is what I did, tried to not give away too many shots. Got off to a really nice start those first couple of holes, and if you can go through level par and pick up a couple, which I did.

“I carried a bit of momentum but stayed patient and really happy with my performance today.

Perez added: “Very pleased. I like it, I know some guys don’t like it and would rather be chasing then being in front. If you were to choose I would rather be in front all of the time, I think the mindset is the same regardless, I think the shots are the shots and you just have to hit them, maybe it takes a bit of the pressure off some of the guys but I would rather be in front if I can.”

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The post DP World Tour: Victor Perez and Matt Wallace lead the way at Dutch Open appeared first on Golf Digest Middle East.

Li had played nine holes in just 29 blows for the second time this season as he carded a brilliant 63 to set the target at nine under at Bernardus Golf.

The Chinese star famously denied Rory McIlroy the 2018 Dubai Classic title, and he has work cut out once again.

Li would lead the way after 36 holes but Gouveia made a move with an eagle on the 12th and then produced his big finish to get to double figures after a 66.

Gouveia is looking to re-establish himself on the DP World Tour after regaining his card as he finished second on the European Challenge Tour last season.

The Portuguese topped the Challenge Tour Rankings in 2015 and enjoyed an impressive debut campaign, earning himself a place in the field at the season-ending DP World Tour Championship, Dubai.

Englishman Matt Wallace was at eight under after a 67 alongside Pole Adrian Meronk, who carded a 68.

After his round, Gouveia said: “I just played very solid from the beginning, I holed a few good putts today again, I think that was the key, and kept it in play so when I missed a few shots I was able to recover well.

“I made a lot of birdies so far and I think that shows my putting has been good the last couple days and I hope I can continue into the weekend.”

Li added: “I put every ball in safer places and created a lot of birdie chances from there. I need to be myself and stay calm, and hopefully I can shoot another couple rounds like this.”

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The post DP World Tour: Dubai Desert Classic champ Li Haotong hits a winner, but Gouveia upstages at Dutch Open appeared first on Golf Digest Middle East.

The 36-year-old Dutchman, who previously won this event in 2013 and 2016, shot a seven-under par 65 at Bernardus Golf-— with eight birdies against a solitary bogey — to take the outright lead ahead of early starters Englishman Eddie Pepperell and Denmark’s Rasmus Hojgaard.

Meanwhile, Pepperell revealed some words of wisdom from his partner Jen were behind his decision not to play a practice round ahead of the tournament and the strategy paid off as the Englishman shot 66 to finish in a share of second place alongside Hojgaard.

The 31-year-old has performed well in the Netherlands with four top 10s to his name and was pleasantly surprised with his game and the golf course.

Victor Perez, Andrea Pavan, Mikko Korhonen and Marcel Schneider finished in a tie for fourth on five under

“It could have been better, but you know, I won’t be too picky,” said Luiten. “I have been struggling a bit with my game, so it was great to see the score today and for some reason I just love playing in front of the home crowd. I got off to a fast start and I kept it going, seven-under is a good day in these conditions.

“I think for me because there is so much going on around you, I need to get into my own little bubble and just do my thing, and for some reason when there is a lot more people than I am used to I’m better at it, or it makes you go into that place. So that is the place I am trying to find every day but obviously you have to pretend like the crowd is there all the time and it’s hard, but I have been able to do it today so hopefully we keep it going.”

Pepperell added: “Last year I was trying hard, I was turning up to tournaments early, working a lot harder than I historically did and I was getting home knackered, and Jen was like, ‘What are you doing? You used to play Majors blind, when you were doing well you wouldn’t bother with practice rounds’, and I think she has got a point.

“I always focused on energy levels, short games, trying to at least feel comfortable with where my game is actually at. I could play my home golf course and swinging it the way I have been the last couple years, and not make a cut out here, so the truth is you have got to have your skill set and I am just prioritising that and I think things are moving in the right direction.

“I’m trying to get back what I had, that is the most frustrating part. It is venturing into the unknown which can be enjoyable but when you are trying to get something back, it is infuriating because you know you can do it and your body is not responding and that is where I have been at.”

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The post Home hope Joost Luiten leads the way at 2022 Dutch Open appeared first on Golf Digest Middle East.

Broberg’s defence
Kristoffer Broberg will return to the Netherlands to defend his title after claiming his second DP World Tour title in September, claiming a three-stroke victory over Matti Schmid.

The Swede has struggled with injury this season and this will be his first event since withdrawing from the withdrew Qatar Masters in March.

MORE: Emotional win for Broberg at Dutch open

Major places on offer
There is more than just the usual trophy, glory and ranking points on offer this week as the Dutch Open is also offering spots at the Open Championship in July. The top three players finishing in the top 10 and ties at Bernardus not otherwise exempt will be teeing it up at St Andrews for the 150th Open for the fourth major of 2022.

The Dutch Open is also the third of the four-event European Qualifying Series, with players continuing to vie for one of the 10 spots available for the US Open at Brookline in June.

The other qualifying events were the British Masters, the Soudal Open ahead of this week and the European Open (June 2-5).

Steeped in history
The Dutch Open was first held way back in 1912, and there have been 76 winners from 18 different countries.

There have been six Dutch winners, including most recently Joost Luiten, who has claimed the trophy twice in 2013 and 2016.

This year’s field includes home hopes Wil Besseling and Darius Van Driel..

Ballesteros in the field
One name that will catch attention is that of tournament invitee Javier Ballesteros, the eldest son of five-time major champion Seve.

This year marks the 46th anniversary of Seve Ballesteros’ maiden DP World Tour win at the 1976 Dutch Open. Ballesteros would go on to land 50 Tour wins, the most by any player to date.

Javier, who made his professional debut in 2014, has competed in several Tour events since, most recently in the Andalucia Masters at Real Club Valderrama last year.

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The post DP World Tour: Key things to know ahead of the 2022 Dutch Open appeared first on Golf Digest Middle East.