The DP World Tour continues its European Swing this week with the KLM Open as the city of Amsterdam celebrates its 750th anniversary. Here are your five things to know.
Migliozzi defends
Guido Migliozzi emerged from a three-man play-off to win his fourth DP World Tour title at the KLM Open 12 months ago after a dramatic afternoon at The International. Birdies at the 16th and 18th saw him sign for an eventful 70 to finish alongside Joe Dean and Marcus Kinhult at 11 under. The trio all made two-putt birdies on the first trip back up the par-five last and while Dean and Kinhult both made par at the second attempt despite the Englishman hitting a poor tee-shot and the Swede finding the water, Migliozzi found the green in two and left himself two feet for a sixth birdie of the week on the closing hole and a dramatic win. It was his first win since the Open de France in 2022. "I never thought I was done," said the Italian. "I've always been in position and tried to make birdies and come back and here it is now. It's an incredible feeling, it's been an incredible battle, well done to everybody. It's super, super nice to be here now." His title defence comes a week before he will tee it up at the U.S. Open after securing his spot at Oakmont Country Club through Final Qualifying at Walton Heath last month.
An event with a rich history
The KLM Open – one of the longest-standing tournaments on the DP World Tour - celebrates its 105th edition this year, having first been staged in 1912. Only The Open Championship, Open de France and the Soudal Open are older in Europe. Past champions include some of the greats of the game, including Major Championship-winning trio Seve Ballesteros, José Maria Olazábal and Bernhard Langer. Olazábal’s win in 1989 was matched last year as the longest play-off in DP World Tour history when Julien Guerrier prevailed over nine holes at the Estrella Damm N.A. Andalucía Masters. There have been six home winners of the event, with two-time champion Joost Luiten the most recent of those. This is the third edition to be staged at The International, with this year marking 22 years of KLM’s sponsorship of the event. In an exciting first, Dutch football legend Ruud Gullit has been appointed tournament director, a role which he will share with long-time tournament director Daan Slooter. An avid golfer and proud Amsterdam native, Gullit takes on the role during the city’s 750th anniversary celebrations - a fitting tribute to both his hometown and his love of the game.
Inside the field
No fewer than 12 winners so far this season are in action this week. One of those is Laurie Canter, the highest-ranked player in the field as the Englishman makes his first appearance in a DP World Tour event outside the Majors since missing out on his second title of the season in a play-off at the Investec South African Open Championship. Second on the Race to Dubai Rankings, he is joined by a host of star names, including former Open champion and Ryder Cup hero Francesco Molinari. Also teeing it up is South Africa’s Thriston Lawrence, who earned a PGA TOUR card last season, and finished in a tie for fourth at the Soudal Open in Belgium. Among the first-time winners so far this season on show are Kristoffer Reitan, Eugenio Chacarra and Richard Mansell. Former Major winner Jimmy Walker is also in Amsterdam, underlining the international appeal of the tournament, while England’s Chris Wood will hope to continue to catch the eye as he looks to return to somewhere near the form that saw him play at the Ryder Cup in 2016. Alongside these international players, there will be great support for the home hopes, with DP World Tour winners Luiten and Darius van Driel shouldering the majority of expectation on their shoulders. All winners from the first three Global Swings - John Parry, Canter and Keita Nakajima - are all in action at the same event for the first time this season.
Amsterdam celebrates 750th anniversary
The motto for this week’s tournament is Great Golf, Good Times, and a festive atmosphere is expected with a number of activities planned, with Amsterdam’s anniversary as the backdrop. The event’s popular and much-loved Beat the Pro competition returns for 2025, where amateur players are given the opportunity to tee off on the par three 11th hole across all four tournament days, with the aim to try and hit their tee shot closer than the professionals. This year will see four-year-old girl Arabella Offen become the youngest participant in the history of the event when just juniors take part on Sunday. Members of Amsterdam-based golf clubs receive a €7.50 ticket discount, and every 750th visitor to the tournament receives ten complimentary drink tokens. Located on the outskirts of Amsterdam Schipol Airport, the combined yardage of the par threes at The International during each round will also be 750 metres.
The state of play in the Swing
The KLM Open marks the start of the second half of both the DP World Tour season and the European Swing, the fourth of five Global Swings on the 2025 Race to Dubai. While he may have just fallen short of carding a 59 and landing his second DP World Tour title in as many weeks last week in Austria, Kristoffer Reitan arrives in the Netherlands as the in-form player and boasting a lead of more than 250 Swing points at the top of the standings. The Norwegian is joined by fellow HotelPlanner Tour graduate Nicolai von Dellingshausen – winner of last week’s Austrian Alpine Open presented by SalzburgerLand – who sits third, but Martin Couvra is not involved for the first time since entering the winner’s circle in Türkiye. The winner of the Swing will earn entry into every event in Phase Two of the Race to Dubai - the Back 9 - along with a US$200,000 bonus, while there is also an exemption into the Genesis Scottish Open at play. Events in Italy and Germany are to follow later this month, with the U.S. Open – the penultimate Major Championship of the year – not counting towards the Swing Rankings.
