Belgian Open (golf)

The Belgian Open is a men's golf tournament which has been played intermittently from 1910 to 2000. All editions since 1978 have been part of the European Tour. After not having been played since 2000, it returned in 2018 as the Belgian Knockout, hosted by PietersProductions, along with its co-founder, Belgian professional golfer Thomas Pieters. With a prize pool set at €1 million, 144 professional golfers start the competition with 36 holes of stroke play, followed by 9-hole match play for the top 64 finishers from the stroke play rounds.[1][2]

Belgian Knockout
Tournament information
Location Belgium
Established1910
Course(s)Rinkven International GC
Tour(s)European Tour
FormatStroke play and match play
Prize fund€1,000,000
Month playedMay - June
Tournament record score
Aggregate266 Lee Westwood (2000)
Current champion
Guido Migliozzi
Rinkven
International GC
Location in Belgium

History

The first ever Belgian Open was played at the Royal Golf Club of Belgium, featuring 36 holes. It was not until 1928 that the competition format expanded to 72 holes. The first edition of the tournament was won by Arnaud Massy, the only Frenchman to win a major championship. Other distinguished champions included Walter Hagen, Henry Cotton, José María Olazábal, Nick Faldo and Lee Westwood. Belgium's most successful 20th century golfer, Flory Van Donck, won his home open five times between 1939 and 1956.

In 2018, PietersProductions took over the organisation of the Belgian Open. After an absence of 18 years, they brought the Belgian Open back to the European Tour. The Belgian Open was reintroduced under the name Belgian Knockout.

The first edition of the Belgian Knockout, which is the 53rd edition of the Belgian Open, took place from 17 to 20 May 2018 at Rinkven International Golf Club, Schilde, Antwerp. In the final, the Spaniard Adrián Otaegui won against Frenchman Benjamin Hébert after four match days. David Drysdale took third place after winning against James Heath.

Format from 2018

There are two rounds of stroke-play on the first two days. The top 64 and ties are credited with prize money and are declared to have advanced under Tour rules. However, in case of a tie for 64th place, there is a playoff if players are tied for 64th place to determine who advances to the knockout stages. Players eliminated in the playoff earn 65th place prize money and are credited with making the cut ("MDF").

In the knock-out stage there are six rounds, each match being over nine holes of stroke-play. Players are seeded based on their position after 36 holes. On the first day of knockout there are three rounds. Half the players use the front nine holes, the other half use the back nine. If the two players are tied after 9 holes there is a sudden-death playoff. There is also a 3rd/4th place playoff. Placings for those who didn't reach the semi-finals are decided firstly by the knockout round reached and, for those who lost in the same round, on their score in the opening 36 holes.

Two major changes will be implemented in 2019 for the event. In order to remove a potential advantage/disadvantage that may happen with some groups, the 144 players are now grouped in two sections of 72 players each. One section plays on the first morning and the second afternoon, the other on the first afternoon and second morning. The top 32 players qualify from each section, each section having a separate playoff if required. The second change applies to the first knockout round. The top 16 players will earn an advantage headed to the first knockout round. If their first-round match is tied after nine holes, they automatically advance.

Winners
Stroke play and knockout (European Tour event 2018– )
YearWinnerCountryVenueScoreMargin of
victory		Runner-upRef
Belgian Knockout
2019Guido Migliozzi ItalyRinkven International GC−3 to +14 strokes Darius van Driel
2018Adrián Otaegui SpainRinkven International GC−3 to −12 strokes Benjamin Hébert
Stroke play (European Tour event 1978–2000)
YearWinnerCountryVenueScoreMargin of
victory		Runner(s)-upRef
Belgian Open
2001–2017: No tournament
Belgacom Open
2000Lee Westwood EnglandRoyal Zoute GC266 (−18)4 strokes Eduardo Romero
1999Robert Karlsson SwedenRoyal Zoute GC272 (−12)1 stroke Retief Goosen
Jamie Spence
1998Lee Westwood EnglandRoyal Zoute GC268 (−16)Playoff Fredrik Jacobson
Belgian Open
1995–1997: No tournament
Alfred Dunhill Open
1994Nick Faldo EnglandRoyal Zoute GC279 (−5)Playoff Joakim Haeggman
1993Darren Clarke Northern IrelandRoyal Zoute GC270 (−14)2 strokes Nick Faldo
Vijay Singh
Piaget Belgian Open
1992Miguel Ángel Jiménez SpainRoyal Zoute GC274 (−10)3 strokes Barry Lane
Renault Belgian Open
1991Per-Ulrik Johansson SwedenRoyal Waterloo GC276 (−12)Playoff Paul Broadhurst
Peugeot-Trends Belgian Open
1990Ove Sellberg SwedenRoyal Waterloo GC272 (−16)4 strokes Ian Woosnam
Volvo Belgian Open
1989Gordon J. Brand EnglandRoyal Waterloo GC273 (−11)4 strokes Kevin Dickens
1988José María Olazábal SpainGolf du Bercuit269 (−15)4 strokes Mike Smith
1987Eamonn Darcy IrelandRoyal Waterloo GC200 (−13)1 stroke Nick Faldo
Ronan Rafferty
Ian Woosnam
Belgian Open
1980–1986: No tournament
1979Gavan Levenson South AfricaRoyal Waterloo GC279 (−5)3 strokes Bobby Cole
Nick Faldo
Michael King
1978Noel Ratcliffe AustraliaRoyal Golf Club of Belgium280 (−12)1 stroke Chris Tickner
Pre-European Tour (1910–1958)
YearWinnerCountryVenueScoreMargin of VictoryRunner(s)-upRef
1959–1977: No tournament
1958Ken Bousfield EnglandRoyal Golf Club of Belgium2713 strokes Antonio Cerdá[3]
1957Bernard Hunt EnglandRoyal Latem GC280Playoff
(36 holes)		 Dai Rees[4]
1956Flory Van Donck BelgiumRoyal Latem GC2698 strokes Ángel Miguel[5]
1955Dave Thomas WalesRoyal Golf Club des Fagnes2901 stroke Arthur Devulder[6]
1954Dai Rees WalesRoyal Antwerp GC2871 stroke Aldo Casera
Norman Von Nida		[7]
1953Flory Van Donck BelgiumRoyal Waterloo GC2709 strokes Henri de Lamaze (a)[8]
1952Antonio Cerdá ArgentinaRoyal Golf Club des Fagnes2864 strokes Brian Wilkes[9]
1951Albert Pélissier FranceRoyal Latem GC2795 strokes Flory Van Donck
Hassan Hassanein		[10]
1950Roberto De Vicenzo ArgentinaRoyal Zoute GC2824 strokes Antonio Cerdá[11]
1949Jimmy Adams ScotlandRoyal Golf Club des Fagnes2832 strokes Max Faulkner[12]
1948Willie Forrester ScotlandRoyal Golf Club of Belgium288
1947Flory Van Donck BelgiumRoyal Golf Club des Fagnes283
1946Flory Van Donck BelgiumRoyal Waterloo GC2894 strokes Willie Forrester
1940–1945: No tournament due to World War II
1939Flory Van Donck BelgiumRoyal Golf Club of Belgium2911 stroke Max Faulkner[13]
1938Henry Cotton EnglandRoyal Waterloo GC27713 strokes Arthur Lacey[14]
1937Marcel Dallemagne FranceRoyal Zoute GC2854 strokes Dai Rees[15]
1936Auguste Boyer FranceRoyal Golf Club des Fagnes2851 stroke Henry Cotton[16]
1935Bill Branch EnglandRoyal Golf Club of Belgium283Playoff
(36 holes)		 Flory Van Donck[17]
1934Henry Cotton EnglandRoyal Waterloo GC2793 strokes Percy Alliss[18]
1933Auguste Boyer FranceRoyal Golf Club des Fagnes2823 strokes Henry Cotton[19]
1932Arthur Lacey EnglandRoyal Golf Club of Belgium2912 strokes Auguste Boyer[20]
1931Arthur Lacey EnglandRoyal Golf Club des Fagnes3011 stroke Marcel Dallemagne
Pierre Hirogoyen		[21]
1930Henry Cotton EnglandRoyal Golf Club of Belgium28111 strokes Archie Compston[22]
1929Sid Brews South AfricaRoyal Antwerp GC3001 stroke Aubrey Boomer[23]
1928Albert Tingey Jr. EnglandRoyal Golf Club of Belgium2973 strokes Jack Taylor[24]
1927Marcel Dallemagne FranceRoyal Zoute GC140
1926Aubrey Boomer JerseyRoyal Zoute GC1379 strokes Percy Boomer[25]
1925Eugène Lafitte FranceRoyal Antwerp GC1421 stroke Arthur Havers[26]
1924Walter Hagen United StatesRoyal Zoute GC1433 strokes Aubrey Boomer
1923Percy Boomer JerseyRoyal Golf Club of Belgium143
1922Aubrey Boomer JerseyRoyal Golf Club of Belgium1501 stroke Charles Corlett
Marius Cavallo		[27]
1921Eugène Lafitte FranceRoyal Golf Club of Belgium14510 strokes George Pannell
1920Rowland Jones EnglandRoyal Zoute GC154Playoff Aubrey Boomer
Henry Burrows		[28]
1915–1919: No tournament due to World War I
1914Tom Ball EnglandRoyal Antwerp GC1444 strokes Charles Mayo[29]
1913Tom Ball EnglandLombardsijde GC1451 stroke James Braid[30]
1912George Duncan ScotlandRoyal Golf Club of Belgium144Playoff Tom Ball
Ted Ray		[31]
1911Charles Mayo EnglandRoyal Golf Club of Belgium1443 strokes Arnaud Massy[32]
1910Arnaud Massy FranceRoyal Golf Club of Belgium1395 strokes Sandy Herd
Harry Vardon		[33]

In 1957 Hunt (137) beat Rees (145) by 8 strokes in a 36-hole playoff. In 1935 Branch (145) beat Van Donck (149) by 4 strokes in a 36-hole playoff. In 1912 Duncan (70) beat Ray (71) and Ball (78) in an 18-hole playoff, played the same evening.

References
  1. "Thomas Pieters to host Belgian Knockout in 2018". European Tour. 25 September 2017.
  2. "Belgian Knockout Tournament History". European Tour. Retrieved 27 April 2018.
  3. "Belgian Open title for Bousfield". The Times. 11 July 1958. p. 4.
  4. "Rees and Hunt tie for first place". The Times. 27 May 1957. p. 3.
  5. "Belgian Open". The Times. 11 June 1956. p. 3.
  6. "British golf win". The Glasgow Herald. 13 August 1955. p. 2.
  7. "Belgian Open golf title for Rees". The Times. 19 July 1954. p. 3.
  8. "Belgian Open championship". The Times. 12 August 1953. p. 9.
  9. "Belgian Open championship". The Times. 11 August 1952. p. 4.
  10. "British open golf championship". The Glasgow Herald. 7 August 1951. p. 2.
  11. "Ostend, July 24". The Times. 25 July 1950. p. 7.
  12. "Adams wins in Belgian". The Times. 15 August 1949. p. 6.
  13. "The Belgian Open championship". The Times. 12 August 1939. p. 4.
  14. "Cotton wins Belgian "Open"". The Glasgow Herald. 14 July 1938. p. 2.
  15. "Belgian Open title for Dellamagne". The Glasgow Herald. 23 July 1937. p. 4.
  16. "The Belgian Open championship". The Times. 11 August 1936. p. 6.
  17. "Belgian Open championship". The Times. 9 July 1935. p. 7.
  18. "Cotton wins the Belgian Open". The Glasgow Herald. 15 August 1934. p. 7.
  19. "Boyer wins Belgian Open championship". The Times. 9 August 1933. p. 5.
  20. "Lacey wins Belgian championship". The Times. 20 June 1932. p. 6.
  21. "Belgian Open championship". The Times. 22 July 1931. p. 6.
  22. "Belgian championship". The Times. 30 June 1930. p. 4.
  23. "Belgian Open championship". The Times. 1 June 1929. p. 5.
  24. "Belgian championship". The Times. 19 June 1928. p. 7.
  25. "Belgian Open golf championship". The Times. 14 July 1926. p. 6.
  26. "Belgian Open golf championship". The Times. 5 October 1925. p. 16.
  27. "Golf - Belgian open championship". The Times. 3 July 1922. p. 19.
  28. "Golf - Belgian professional championship". The Times. 14 July 1920. p. 6.
  29. "Belgian Open golf championship - Tom Ball's victory". The Times. 13 July 1914. p. 13.
  30. "Belgian Open championship - Victory of Tom Ball". The Times. 18 October 1913. p. 13.
  31. "Open championship of Belgium - Victory of Duncan". The Times. 6 July 1912. p. 13.
  32. "Belgian Open championship - Victory of C.H. Mayo". The Times. 1 June 1911. p. 14.
  33. "Open championship of Belgium - Victory of Arnaud Massy". The Times. 3 June 1910. p. 18.

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