Preview

European Open Course Info

Designer: Michael Blesch
Type of Course: Parkland
Used Since: 2017
Fairways: Wide
Rough: N/A
Greens: Large and undulating
Water Hazards: In-play on 17 holes
Par 5's: 4th, 9th, 11th, 15th, 16th & 18th 
Premium on: Par 5 scoring and approach play

Significant Info To Be Aware Of 

In 2019, the event was played in September, whilst it was played in July in 2017-18. The tournament was cancelled in 2020 due to Covid.

Porsche European Open Weather Forecast 

Thursday

Sunny Intervals with a moderate breeze. Wind 14mph 

Friday
Sunny Intervals with a moderate breeze. Wind 10mph 

Saturday
Sunny Intervals and a gentle breeze. Wind 8mph 

Sunday 
Sunny Intervals and a moderate breeze. Wind 9mph 

Porsche European Open Trends 

Winning score 
Tom Mckibbin won with -9 whilst Kalle Samooja won in 2022 with a score of -6. Three of the previous four editions have been between -11 and -14. 

Winning Profile 
McKibbin was playing his first full season on the DP World Tour but regarded as a big talent at the time. Kalle Samooja was world number 239 before his win last year, whilst Marcus Armitage was ranked 190th in the world when winning in 2021.  All three players were winning their first DP World Tour title.

Paul Casey was world number 19 before his win in 2019 and had won on the PGA Tour earlier that year. Richard McEvoy was a massive shock winner when he held off Bryson DeChambeau in 2018.  Despite winning a Challenge Tour event the week before, he was only ranked 275th in the world.  Jordan Smith had a terrific season on tour before his win in 2017 and was ranked 122nd pre-win.  

Correlating Courses  
The Albatross Golf Course in Czech Republic is similar in terms of being a long brute of a course.

Course form 
Last year's champion, McKibbin was making his course debut. 2022 champion, Kalle Samooja, had recorded a top 20 finish in 2021.  The winner in 2021, Marcus Armitage, had no course form with only a missed cut to his name previously.

Casey was 7th in his previous finish here, McEvoy was 28th the year before and Smith was a debutant like most of the field.  A previous good showing at the course is an advantage but not essential. 

Recent form 
McKibbin was 21st at the KLM Open on his previous start but had missed three cuts in a row prior. Kalle Samooja had missed his three previous cuts prior to winning in 2022.

Armitage was 8th the week before his win. Casey arrived after a 3rd at the Tour Championship. McEvoy had won on the Challenge Tour in his previous start and Smith had made his last seven cuts without placing.  Aside from Samooja, recent form appears to be a very handy guide.

Nationality 
Five of the past six winners at this course have been British.  

Porsche European Open Stats Analysis 
We will assess the stats of the six most recent winners between 2017-23.

Driving Distance 
25-22-106-24-114-4. Despite the long yardage, McEvoy and Armitage both triumphed despite being shorter hitters. 

Driving Accuracy 
18-63-63-20-15-13. Driving Accuracy isn't perceived as essential but it certainly helps to average or better.

SG: Off The Tee
7-18-46-11-32-N/A. No stats are available for Smith's win in 2017 but he drove the ball beautifully. It's important to make up shots off the tee.

SG: Approach
9-3-19-1-21-N/A. Strong iron play is very important. 

SG: Around The Greens
79-10-10-96-45-N/A. Generally not a key stat. 

SG: Putting
37-109-7-30-30-N/A. Armitage ranked highly and whilst it's clearly important to put well, other stats are favoured. 

Porsche European Open In Play Guide 

Tough Holes 
In 2023, the Par 4 6th played the toughest. The 10th and 13th were next toughest.

Birdie Holes 
In 2023, the 11th, 15th and 18th played the three easiest holes.

Fast or Slow Start 
Mckibbin was three shots back after round one last year. Samooja was five shots back after the opening round in 2022.

However in 2019, three of the top four were in the top two after day one. It's possible to play catch up.

2024 European Open Tips