European Number One Colin Montgomerie and Ryder Cup Captain Ian Woosnam have confirmed their participation for The KLM Open, which this week announced increased prize money to €1.6 million.

Title sponsors KLM Royal Dutch Airlines have also announced a three-year extension to their title sponsorship through to 2009.

“Golf is the fastest-growing sport in the Netherlands and a large portion of our frequent travelers play golf,” says Erik Varwijk, CEO of KLM The Netherlands. “Golf is a sport filled with excitement and passion. It’s exactly the kind of ambience in which to present ourselves.”

This year, the KLM Open will be held on one of the continent’s finest links courses at the Kennemer Golf and Country Club in Holland from August 10-13. Kennemer G&CC has hosted the Dutch Open sixteen times, most recently in 1989 and 1990.

In 1989 it ended in spectacular fashion with the longest play-off in European Tour history as Spain’s José Maria Olazábal needed nine extra holes to defeat Northern Ireland’s Ronan Rafferty after Englishman Roger Chapman went out on the first play-off hole. In 1990 Scot Stephen McAllister won with the lowest 72 holes total at the Kennemer, 274.

Montgomerie will be returning to a tournament that he won in 1993 at Noordwijk. "I haven't played in Holland for quite a while and am very happy to return,” said the Scot, who won an unprecedented eighth Order of Merit title at the end of the 2005 season.

“I did play the Kennemer in 1990 when it was last held there and it is a great links course. I enjoy visiting Holland and to return as a past winner is fantastic. My win in 1993 at Noordwijk was very special as it is definitely a trophy you want to have your name on. To win it twice would be great, especially ahead of the USPGA and The Ryder Cup. I am really looking forward to a great week. "
 
Woosnam is making good on a promise he made last year to come and play in the year of his Ryder Cup captaincy. “I am looking forward to playing in Holland again,” said the Welshman. “It is a very important and busy year for me as Ryder Cup Captain. I have to choose the tournaments that I play in very carefully.

“The KLM open is in my schedule for a number of reasons. First of all it is one of the oldest and well respected tournaments on the Tour. The course at the Kennemer is a top class lay-out and I love to play links style golf. Furthermore the KLM Open is one of the last tournaments that count towards qualifying for The European Ryder Cup Team. To play in the tournament where potential Team members are playing is a bonus. But my main goal is to do well in the tournament as a player."

The tournament organisers where pleased to announce these two players. “The commitment of these great players to The European Tour and in this case the KLM Open, in particular, is fantastic,” said tournament co-director Daan Slooter.

“Having Colin, the Number One player in Europe, in the field will give the tournament and the game of golf great exposure in Holland. And having the Ryder Cup Captain, so close to the actual matches, playing as well makes many golf fans in Holland very happy.”