Colin Montgomerie and Ian Woosnam, two of the leading figures in European golf in recent times, have confirmed their participation in the inaugural Nordic Open at Simon’’s Golf Club near Copenhagen, Denmark, from August 7-10.
The announcement that Montgomerie and Woosnam will compete in the €1,600,000 tournament – the first full European Tour event to be played in Denmark – is a huge boost for the promoters, Danish Golf Company, who are determined to launch the Nordic Open with a field of the highest quality.
Anders Sørensen, Chief Executive Officer of Danish Golf Company, said: “We are absolutely thrilled and honoured that these two great players are going to tee up at the Nordic Open.
“Both are experienced Ryder Cup participants and respected world wide. Colin Montgomerie is as a seven-time winner of the Volvo Order of Merit, a feat which has earned him a place in the history books. Ian Woosnam, as a Major Champion and a phenomenal golfer, is a household name, much loved by the Danes.
“Ian, incidentally, opened the venue ten years ago,” added Sørensen, who pledges that the field will enjoy a special atmosphere created by large crowds when they face, amongst many others, their Ryder Cup colleague, Thomas Björn.
Montgomerie, of course, is no stranger to success in Scandinavia. Two years ago he became the first player to record three victories in the Scandinavian Masters and will be keen to add Denmark to the long list of countries where he has collected his 27 titles on The European Tour International Schedule.
The 1991 Scandinavian Masters was, in fact, Montgomerie’’s second title after joining The European Tour and with at least one victory every season since 1993 the Scot, who celebrates his 40th birthday in June, will be hoping to prolong that impressive sequence.
Montgomerie re-wrote the record books during the nineties, winning a record seven successive Volvo Order of Merit titles between 1993 and 1999, a massive achievement which was recognised with Honorary Membership of The European Tour. He also came close to winning both the US Open and US PGA Championships, missing out in play-offs in 1994 and 1995 respectively.
He commented: “I am looking forward to playing an official Tour event in Denmark for the first time. I have been impressed by the improvement of the Danish players over the past few years and the staging of the Nordic Open is a tribute to their successes.”
Woosnam, now 45, has also enjoyed a remarkable career on The European Tour, winning a total of 29 titles in addition to his crowning glory, the Masters Tournament at Augusta National in 1991, the year in which he won his second Volvo Order of Merit title to add to his first success in 1987.
The tenacious Welshman, one of the most popular players wherever he competes around the world, is sure to be a big hit at Simon’’s Golf Club, which staged the Nykredit Danish Open on the European Challenge Tour between 1994 and 1997.
“It is fitting that the first Nordic Open is staged at Simon’’s Golf Club” said Woosnam. “I never thought that when I helped to open the course ten years ago that we would be returning there a decade later for a valuable event on The European Tour. I am sure it will be a huge success”.
