It is 20 years since Markus Brier made history as the first Austrian to win on the DP World Tour - and he is hoping the anniversary could coincide with more home success.
In 2006, the then 37-year-old added to his wins at his national open on the HotelPlanner Tour in 2002 and 2004 to become a three-time winner – a record he still holds today.
Since last competing at the event in 2020, he has forged a successful career on the Legends Tour and is this week taking a break from competing in the over-50s circuit by taking in the Austrian Alpine Open presented by Kitzbühel Tirol as an interested observer.
His victory two decades ago came at his home club, Fontana, where Sepp Straka also grew up playing before moving to the United States as a teenager.
Much has changed since Straka last played on home soil in 2018 and Brier is delighted that the two-time Ryder Cup winner and four-time PGA TOUR is back to support his home event.
“That's obviously the icing on the cake,” Brier told the DP World Tour while watching Straka compete in a pre-tournament practice round.
“He grew up in Fontana where I was attached, and he was there when I won.
“So, we had a bit of a relationship when he was young. It's always great to see him because now I see him every three years or something.
“He's really matured. I mean, he's made his way. While he’s not at the moment, he's a top 10 player.
“He's still the same as 10, 20 years ago and really relaxed.
“He's got a twin brother, Sam, and they were really talented, but they moved away from Austria when they were 14. So at that age, they were pretty strong already.
“He's very good in managing his temper and knowing what he's doing and that's what I love about his game that he's never trying things which he's not able to do we just talked a little bit about strategy.
“He knows where he is and I think that's why he's so good.”
World Number 18 Straka is one of 14 Austrian players in the field this week at new host venue Golfclub Kitzbühel-Schwarzsee-Reith.
Among the others are Bernd Wiesberger, who won his ninth DP World Tour title last month, and Maximilian Steinlechner, a graduate of the HotelPlanner Tour last season.
With Wiesberger the only other Austrian to have won the Austrian Open title in 2012, Brier is encouraged by the talent line and the chances of a home winner in Kitzbühel.
“Max is on a good way,” said Brier.
“He played really nice on Challenge Tour last year and made his way up [to the DP World Tour].
“Obviously the first year on Tour is always tough with all the new venues and now we have got a few young talents and let's see if they can use the advantage of being at home, especially with the up and downs here.
“I think that's a bit of an advantage for our players because they're used to these hills and the altitude.”
