What is at play ahead of concluding three DP World Tour events on European Swing?  – Articles

After a dramatic climax to the U.S. Open, the DP World Tour’s European Swing picks up in the Netherlands this week with the KLM Open.

The 104th edition of the historic tournament marks the first of three remaining counting events in the fourth of five Global Swings on the Race to Dubai. 

Here, we revisit what has happened so far on the European Swing and answer the key questions to be resolved over the upcoming weeks.

Who has won so far on the swing?

Following last month’s US PGA Championship, the DP World Tour made its first visit of the season to Europe for the Soudal Open in Belgium.

Held at the tree-lined Rinkven International Golf Club, the tournament saw Nacho Elvira hold his nerve to claim his second DP World Tour title in his 275th appearance.

Laurie Canter, a three-time Qualifying School graduate, then put several near misses behind him as he made a long-awaited entrance to the winner’s circle at the European Open in Germany.

The Englishman began the final day in a tie for the lead but had three players for company after playing his first ten holes in one over, only for him to produce three birdies on his way in earn a two-shot victory.

A week later, history was made in Sweden as Linn Grant became the first woman to win twice on the DP World Tour by regaining the Volvo Car Scandinavian Mixed title.

In her hometown of Helsingborg, the Swede chased down overnight leader Sebastian Söderberg with a flawless final-round 65 at Vasatorps Golfklubb.

While last week’s U.S. Open – won for the second time by American Bryson DeChambeau –features within the European Swing, points accrued in the Majors this year only count towards the season-long Race to Dubai Rankings and not on the swing rankings.

Where are we still to play on the swing?

With the DP World Tour having reached the midway point of the season in Sweden earlier this month, we continue our global odyssey in the Netherlands.

The country has played host to a tournament for more than five decades since the inception of the DP World Tour in 1972, and for the first time in five years is being staged at The International.

It will then be the turn of Italy to stage its national Open, from June 27-30, with the Adriatic Golf Club playing host to a DP World Tour event for the first time.

The Tour will then make its second visit to Germany in as many months for the BMW International Open at Golfclub München Eichenried.

The 35th edition of the popular tournament is set to see two-time Masters champion and home favourite Bernhard Langer make his final appearance on the DP World Tour.

• To view the entry list for the KLM Open, click here.
• To view the entry list for the Italian Open presented by Regione Emilia-Romagna, click here.

What is on offer through the European Swing?

As with the four other Global Swings, the European Swing will have its own champion who will qualify for all Back 9 events, where players will play for increased Race to Dubai ranking points, and receive a US$ 200,000 prize money bonus.

The leading DP World Tour member (not otherwise exempt) will also qualify for the Genesis Scottish Open, the second of five Rolex Series events this season.

Away from the swing specifically, the KLM Open and Italian Open will both provide avenues for players to qualify for next month’s The Open at Royal Troon, with two places to the leading two players, not already exempt, who make the cut securing their place in the field for the final men’s Major of the year.

Who is leading the way in the European Swing?

Spaniard Elvira holds the advantage heading into the concluding three events of the swing, having won his second DP World Tour title in Belgium.

While the Spaniard missed the cut at the European Open a week later to lose the spot to Canter, he quickly gained it back by finishing tied seventh at the Volvo Car Scandinavian Mixed.

His nearest pursuer is Canter, who holds a deficit of 30 Swing Points, and opted to skip the visit to Sweden earlier this month.

Scotland’s Calum Hill lies third after backing up a pair of top 20s in Belgium and Germany with a tie for second in the first of two trips to Scandinavia on this season’s DP World Tour schedule.

With 500 Race to Dubai points on offer for the winner of the next three DP World Tour events, there is opportunity for lots to change as the rewards on offer become more prevalent in players’ minds.

To view the current European Swing standings, click here.

Who have been the champions of the Global Swings so far?

With a victory on home soil at the Fortinet Australian PGA Championship, followed by a third-place finish at the ISPS HANDA Australian Open, Min Woo Lee won the Opening Swing as the leading DP World Tour member.

Rory McIlroy was later crowned the winner of the International Swing after a sublime start to 2024 with a runner-up finish at the Dubai Invitational backed up by a record fourth Hero Dubai Desert Classic title in the first Rolex Series event of the year.

Sebastian Söderberg then topped the Asian Swing Rankings as he registered three consecutive top-fives, including back-to-back runner-up finishes at the Hero Indian Open and ISPS HANDA – CHAMPIONSHIP.