European Swing: Four weeks, four winners and plenty still in play

After four of six events, the battle to win the European Swing could not be much closer on the DP World Tour.

Yurav Premlall set the ball-rolling with his thumping 14-shot win at the Estrella Damm Catalunya Championship and then after a break for the US PGA Championship we had a run of three national opens.

Richard Sterne, Kota Kaneko and Eugenio Chacarra were the champions in Belgium, Austria and the Nertherlands respectively and now we have a two-week break for the U.S. Open, the season's third Major Championship.

The action will then resume with another national open at the DS Automobiles 83° Open d'Italia before we bring the curtain down on the Swing in Germany at the BMW International Open.

Here we take a look at the action so far, the standings and what is still at stake.

What's at stake?

The Swings provide a chance for players to enjoy a truly exceptional season on the DP World Tour, with the player who tops the Rankings earning entry into every event in Phase Two of the season - the Back 9. Those nine events made up of national opens and storied tournaments provide elevated prize funds and points and a perfect platform to play your way into Phase Three - the DP World Tour Play-Offs. Also available to the Rankings winner is a bonus of US$200,000.

And that's not all: the player who finishes highest in the Rankings and is not already exempt will earn a place in the field at the Genesis Scottish Open - the second Rolex Series event of the season.

How do the Rankings stand?

Kaneko may have only scored points in two events but he went big with a runner-up finish in Belgium and his win in Austria.

That puts him top of the pile but there is little in it, with pressure coming not only from his fellow winners in the Swing but also further down the Rankings with a host of players enjooying a consistent spell.

Chacarra is next just 34.70 points behind with three other top 25 finishes complementing his win, while Sterne is third after finishing 11th at the KLM Open but is not set to tee it up again in the Swing.

Premlall comes next followed by Finn Oliver Lindell, who finished second in the Netherlands and has yet to miss a cut this season.

Ricardo Gouveia, Shaun Norris, Davis Bryant and Marcus Armitage - all runners-up during the Swing - come next, with Maxiimilan Steinlechner rounding out the top ten after back to back top ten finishes.

All of those players are separated by less than 520 points and with 585.00 available for a win any of them, and any other player in the top 19, could top the Rankings after the week in Turin.

With a total of 7,000 points still available in the final two events, it is truly all to play for.

To view the full European Swing Rankings, click here.

Looking back

Estrella Damm Catalunya Championship

The Swing got under way with a bang as Premlall romped to a maiden victory at Real Club de Golf El Prat in record-breaking fashion. The event began with tributes to the late, great Seve Ballesteros, with players wearing his trademark navy and white on the Thursday, which was the 15th anniversary of his passing. Premlall was a shot off the lead after 36 holes but then produced a remarkable weekend of 63-63 to get to 28 under and win by 14 shots - a record winning margin for a regular DP World Tour event. "I've worked so hard to get into this position and it's so rewarding to finally see the results of it," he said. "I mean the last eight, nine months have been such a struggle just to build myself onto a platform where I know I could give myself a chance to win and to end up obviously in this position. I'm just so grateful so it's a dream come true."

Soudal Open

From 14 shots to 13 years as Sterne ended his long wait for a seventh DP World Tour title in Belgium. Fellow South African Zander Lombard had set the pace with an opening 63 and led by three after 54 holes, with Sterne five back heading into the final round. But the veteran steadily made his way though the field and then almost recorded an albatross on the 17th, with the resulting eagle helping him set the target at 18 under, a target that would not be hit by anyone else. "It's been a tough ride," he said. "A lot of injuries, a lot of hard things that I've gone through but to get back in the winner's circle is... quite unexpected today, to be honest. I thought I was one behind playing the last but then got on to the 18th green and had a quick look at the board and was quite surprised."

Austrian Alpine Open presented by Kitzbühel Tirol

The South African dominance of the Swing was ended by Japanese Kaneko, who won his maiden DP World Tour title in the mountains. Fresh off a tie for second the week before, he produced an incredibly consistent performance, starting with three rounds of 65 before a closing 67 moved him to 18 under and handed him a two-shot victory. "I just can't believe it, I didn't think I would win and I'm still very surprised," Kaneko said. "I'd like to thank all the fans this week, they've been a big support to help me win this tournament." Kaneko's victory continued a brilliant purple patch for Japan on the DP World Tour, with his victory the fifth for five separate Japanese players in the last three years.

KLM Open

It was a wild and windy week at The International but consistency won out in the end as Chacarra carded a closing 70 for a one-shot victory. Two rounds of 69 saw him comfortably into the weekend before a third-round 65 catapulted him to the top of the leaderboard. He would not have it all his own way on day four as Lindell put the pressure on but a birdie on the last saw Chacarra to victory at 11 under. "It's nice to win with my dad here," he said. "He's given everything for me since I was little so it was something very unique and I think of him, for sure."

What's to come?

After this week's down week and the U.S. Open, we head to Italy for another prestigious national open at the DS Automobiles 83° Open d'Italia. Chacarra, Kaneko and Premlall are all set to tee it up in Turin, where they will be joined by Race to Dubai Rankings Delivered by DP World leader Patrick Reed.

We then head to Germany where that foursome will once again be in the field and a Swing winner will be crowned.