This week "Inside the KLM Open" in Holland.... TEE TIMES

 DP World Tour : KLM Open Leaderboard Tee Times

The European Swing continues as the DP World Tour hosts a national open for the third consecutive week in the Netherlands.

Syme defends

Connor Syme won his maiden DP World Tour title as he saw off playing partner Joakim Lagergren by two shots 12 months ago. The 29-year-old Scot was always in control on Sunday as he closed out a breakthrough win in his 182nd appearance. 

"Unbelievable," he said. "It was so, so difficult the last few days. I just felt so much better this week, I felt really ready to do it, and I'm so, so happy I managed to do it." 

With Syme starting the day two shots ahead of Lagergren with the rest of the field a further four back, it came down to almost a match play battle between the pair. Syme birdied the first and still led by three at the turn, with Lagergren essentially handing him the title with bogeys on the 15th and 17th. Syme signed for a closing 70 to finish at 11 under, while a Lagergren eagle on the last saw him also card a 70.

A fond farewell to The International

The International will be our host for the third consecutive year this week and fourth time overall but in 2027 we will head to Kennemer Golf & Country Club in Zandvoort. 

The Amsterdam venue has been the perfect venue for the event and in the past two years has seen victories for Syme and Guido Migliozzi. It also hosted in 2019 when Sergio Garcia lifted the trophy and the 2017 Masters champion is not the only Major champion to have tasted KLM Open glory. 

First played in 1912 and an ever-present on the DP World Tour schedule since 1972 with the exception of Covid disruptions, the event has been won by the likes of Seve Ballesteros, Bernhard Langer, José María Olazábal, Payne Stewart, Darren Clarke and Martin Kaymer. 

As one of the great national opens, it is a jewel in the crown of the DP World Tour schedule and The International has played a big role in its storied history.

Luiten takes centre stage

Joost Luiten will bid for a hat-trick of wins at his home open when he tees it up, with the local hero set to take bumper crowds with him. Luiten has been the main attraction at his home open for more than a decade but he will not be alone in putting on a stellar show for the Dutch fans. 

Major Champions Francesco Molinari and Danny Willett tee it up this week as does 18-year-old rising star and U.S. Amateur champion Mason Howell. 

Double victors in 2026 Jayden Schaper and Casey Jarvis will be looking to enhance their Race to Dubai credentials and they are joined by six other winners from the current season and six previous winners of this event on top of Syme, Migliozzi and Luiten. Add in more home favourites such as Wil Besseling and Daan Huizing and we are in for a thrilling week.

Gullit returns in off-course role

Football great Ruud Gullit will return as tournament director this week and he is bringing some famous friends with him. 

Gullit, one of the greatest Dutch footballers of all time and a former Ballon d’Or winner, has been appointed tournament director for the second consecutive year. “I see myself more as a director of atmosphere than a tournament director," he said. "The KLM Open should offer top-level sport, but also energy, enjoyment and connection. Golf at the highest level, all with a smile.” 

Gullit will also be joined by Oranje greats Patrick Kluivert and Marco van Basten for the pro-am, with Ronald de Boer hitting the ceremonial opening tee shot on Thursday. Daan Slooter will remain responsible as sports tournament director for the international player field and the sporting execution of the event

Ten years of Beat the Pro

Beat the Pro may now be a fairly common sight across the world of golf but it was at this event in 2016 that it launched, giving amateur players a chance to win a prize if they could get inside the professionals shots on a par three. 

It has produced many memorable and fun moments down the years but perhaps none more so than in 2019 when 100-year-old Susan Hosang took on Patrick Reed, Thomas Pieters and Matt Wallace. She may not have won but she produced one of the moments of the week and the season.

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Bryan Angus (edit)

T10 Mac Hughes, Henley birdies his way to the Charles Schwab Challenge... Final results

     PGA Tour : Charles Schwab Challenge  Leaderboard Results

Canadians: It was a much needed good week for Canadian veteran Mac Hughes whose well documented form has been a struggle to date.

Four solid rounds on what was an increasingly stern test on the venerable Colonial GC, 66 67 69 69 -9 T10 should do the 35 year old Hamilton native the world of good.

Just 3 shots off the winning score, in fact at -10 in the middle of the 14th fairway he looked odds on to challenge for the outright lead. However his approach from 168yds fell short resulting in his lone bogey.

He moves up from owgr #152 to #136, and his Fed Ex standings improves from #135 to #116

AJ Ewart had another good week T17 70 63 71 70 -6  Fed Ex standings #85 to #83.

Russell Henley reacts after sinking a putt on the 18th hole during the final round of the Charles Schwab Challenge

Winner : The storyline is this. Russell Henley went out and grabbed this Charles Schwab Challenge with  3 straight birdies 16, 17, 18 to tie Eric Cole, then a winning 4th birdie on the playoff hole when Cole missed his. 

This slightly built 6' 170lbs 37 year old from Macon Georgia, constantly contradicts the bomb and gouge brigade with good driving, exceptional iron play and a reliable putter, all through his college career where he won the Haskins award, through the American ranks until now

He moves from 12th to 5th owgr and to 11th Fed Ex standings. $1,782,000

Eric Cole story: I wrote yesterday "he could be forgiven for finishing runner up" On his storied mother Laura Baugh's  71st birthday, we were reminded that in her 25 year LPGA career she had 71 top 10's, with 10 runner ups, and never a win..

Her son on his 120th PGA tour start did everything he could for his maiden win, Henley just beat him for another runner up finish.

Bryan Angus

Japan's Kato Kaneko wins Austrian Alpine Open ....Final results.

 DP World Tour : Austrian Alpine Open  Leaderboard  Results

The sun is still shining in Austria at Kitzbuhel,  however the DP World Tour officials have been advised by the local weather bureau that there is electricity nearby in the mountains, and as such have suspended play at 1230pm local 

Bryan Angus

Final Edit  >>>>26/05/31

Kato Kaneko claimed his maiden DP World Tour title in composed style following a two-shot victory at the 2026 Austrian Alpine Open presented by Kitzbühel Tirol.

The 23-year-old star, who has a unique swing, topped last season's Japan Golf Tour Order of Merit to earn exemption on the DP World Tour and he has not looked back since.

He has made ten cuts from 12 starts and arrived at Golfclub Kitzbühel-Schwarzsee-Reith on the back of a tied for second at last week's Soudal Open.

Kaneko was a picture of consistency with three successive 65s leading into the final round and showed nerves of steel to bounce back from a late hiccup and a 71-minute weather delay to prevail at -18, with Ricardo Gouveia and Davis Bryant finishing in a share of second.

"I just can't believe it, I didn't think I would win and I'm still very surprised," Kaneko said. "I knew I hit it hard, but it went in so I was lucky.

"I knew I hit the board but I knew it didn't go in the water, so I was just happy it didn't find the water.

"I'd like to thank all the fans this week, they've been a big support to help me win this tournament."

Despite finding the rough at the par-three 16th, Kaneko holed his chip shot to regain his one-shot advantage at -18.

Bryant bogeyed the last to gift the Japanese a two-shot lead, something he did not throw away.

Kaneko parred his way home, despite a scary finish when he hit the stands behind the green and his ball stopped in the thick rough by the water hazard, to claim his maiden DP World Tour title.

Bryant and Gouveia finished  at -16  with home favourite Wiesberger, Italian Gregorio De Leo and Spaniard Rafa Cabrera Bello a shot further back at -15

Steinlechner and Luiten were at -14  alongside Daniel Hillier, Manuel Elvira and Joel Girrbach.

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Bryan Angus (edit)

Legend, Laura Baugh's son Eric Cole 63, leads...Hughes T8 ..54 hole results at the Colonial GC.

   PGA Tour : Charles Schwab Challenge  Leaderboard Tee Times

Eric Cole shot a season best 63 to lead the Charles Schwab Challenge on a 90*f, blistering hot Texas day in the Dallas/Fort Worth area, that has firmed up Colonial GC after all the rain earlier in the week had softened it.

Eric Cole  Denis Poroy/AP Photo)

In his 120th PGA Tour event, during which he has lead after 54 holes 6 times since 2021 when he debuted, he continues to vie for his first win..

You could forgive the 37 year old type 1 diabetic, whose life is complicated by his daily battle to control his blood sugar, from finishing a the runner up.

His famous mother Laura Baugh, played from 1973 to 2001 and had 71 to 10 finishes, 10 times the runner up, but never the winner.

Bettmann

During that time, the stunningly beautiful woman who won the US Women's Amateur as a 16 year old in 1971, who's looks earned her the 1972 Golf Digest title " Most Beautiful Golfer" and  garnered her contracts off the course with major sponsors like Ford and Colgate Palmolive, was married 4 times, twice to the handsome South African golfer Bobby Cole who sired her 7 children including Eric.

Her career is legendary, her beauty and battle with the bottle made world headlines as she ended up in the Betty Ford Clinic in 1996 to finally get control, writing a book "Out of the Rough" about it in 1999.

She went on to broadcasting with the Golf Channel and eventually in 2016 landed in Ponte Verdra as a golf instructor at Sawgrass CC.

She turns 71 today, as her son tries to do the one thing she never did. 

Canadians

T8 Mac Hughes 66 67 69 -8 in his best outing of the year so far, a good result on Sunday will do wonders for his rankings, currently #135 FedEx , #152 owgr.

He has won twice 2016 RSM Classic and 2022 Sanderson Farms.

T19 AJ Ewart 70 63 71 -6

Sudarshan Yellamaraju and Adam Svensson MC..

Bryan Angus

Japan's Kota Kaneko leads in Austria..54 hole results

   DP World Tour : Austrian Alpine Open Tee Times Leaderboard  

Kota Kaneko showed he had nerves of steel to birdie the last and earn the outright lead during an intriguing Moving Day at the 2026 Austrian Alpine Open presented by Kitzbühel Tirol.

The Japanese has been a picture of consistency at Golfclub Kitzbühel-Schwarzsee-Reith this week and kept his cool with a calm ten-foot putt at the 18th to card his third successive round of 65.

His scorecard showed six birdies and one dropped shot for the third straight day as he leads the way at -15 under, one clear of Portugal's Ricardo Gouveia -14, who posted a bogey-free 63.

Kaneko hopes to go one better than his runner-up finish at last week's Soudal Open as he targets his maiden DP World Tour title.

"I’ve been putting really well and also my tee shots have been great. I’ve given myself a lot of chances and I took advantage of those," Kameko said.

"The golf course is in Turkey and also Belgium really suits me. I like it here in Austria too and I feel confident off the tee at the moment.

 "I think I will be nervous tomorrow but if I play my game I think I can do well and have a good result."

Gouveia made his move thanks to an explosive start, rolling birdies at each of the opening four holes.

That put him alongside overnight leader Andrew Johnston, but they were knocked off top spot when Gregorio De Leo eagled the tenth to climb to -12.

The Italian dropped a shot at the 12th as Johnston regained his place at the summit with an opening birdie.

Gouveia also reached -12 by finishing his front nine with a birdie and while Johnston bogeyed the fourth, his playing partner Kaneko birdied the third and fourth for a three-way tie.

Gouveia carded seven birdies in the lowest round of the day, with China's Zhou one shot further adrift at -13 under.

"I can't say much, it was really solid from the get go," Gouveia said.

"Started off with four birdies, surprised by the putt on three, but that just kept me going. I was playing solid, a lot of wedge shots, holed some nice putts and just a phenomenal day."

Joost Luiten is in solo fourth at -12 under, while Johnston was four shots off the leader at -11 alongside home favourite Bernd Wiesberger, Calum Hill, Richard Sterne, Joe Dean and Davis Bryant.

europeantour.com

Bryan Angus (edit)

""Ace" Ewart, Mac Hughes in contention at the Colonial GC... 36 hole results

  PGA Tour : Charles Schwab Challenge  Leaderboard Tee Times

Two Canadians in contention at this Charles Schwab Challenge is a nice way to begin this report.

AJ Ewart earned his PGA Tour card in 2025

AJ Ewart "aced" the 16th hole on his way to T9 70 63 -7, while Mac Hughes backed up his opening 66 with -3 67 T11 -7 as they head into the weekend just 3 shots off the lead.

Ewart from Coquitlam BC won the 2025  PGA Tour Q School to gain his playing status

Meanwhile another of the very successful arrivals from the top 10 on the DP World Tour Englishman, Jordan Smith with no familiarity on the Colonial GC has been in top form posting 65 65 -10 for a one shot lead.

However as we've seen so far, Colonial without the Texas wind is playing easier and the leaderboard remains packed.

At -9 Matsuyama, Gerard, Thorbjornsen and Harman, then at -8 five more, before you get to the Canadians at -7

CUT FELL -2

Sudarshan Yellamaraju 71 68 -1 MC

Adam Svensson 70 70 E  MC

Bryan Angus

Bryan Angus

Andrew "Beef" Johnston leads at Austrian Alpine Open...36 hole results

  DP World Tour : Austrian Alpine Open Tee Times Leaderboard  

Fan favourite from England, Andrew Johnston nicknamed "Beef" by his peers for his stocky countenance, has posted a season best -8 62 for a -10 total to lead in the clubhouse as the late wave tees off in the impossibly beautiful Austrian Alps. 

Eight birdies out in 32 back in 30 on a clean card will be hard to beat today.

INJURY : A ligament and tendon tear in his thumb has sidelined him from competitive golf for over a year after a complex operation in Australia in 2024.

While he was off he was open about his mental health battles and his decision to get help. He has therefore focused on balancing his personal life. To help others he began a podcast Beef's Golf Club

Click on my leaderboard link for live scoring..

EDIT >>>> 

Andrew Johnston fired his lowest DP World Tour round in almost seven years to climb into the halfway lead at the Austrian Alpine Open presented by Kitzbühel Tirol.

Andrew Johnston is bidding to land his second DP World Tour title, a decade after his first

After an injury-impacted few years, the Englishman is making his tenth start of the campaign on a medical exemption, after being limited to just 17 appearances across the last three seasons.

Boosted by a run of four consecutive made cuts, including a top-15 finish in Belgium last week, Johnston carded a bogey-free second-round 62 – his lowest score since the Scottish Open in 2019 – to reach -11 through the opening two days at Golfclub Kitzbühel-Schwarzsee-Reith.

Calum Hill overtook Johnston with a brilliant front nine of 29, but the Scot was unable to maintain his electric start as bogeys at two of his final three holes on the tougher back nine saw him drop into a three-strong group tied for second at -10 alongside Rafa Cabrera Bello and Kota Kaneko.

Since a 73 on the opening day at the Estrella Damm Catalunya Championship in Spain earlier this month, the fan favourite, affectionately known as Beef, has now shot under par in his subsequent nine rounds.

"Just hit a lot of good shots," he said. "The putter got a bit hot, which I've been trying to do now for six months.  You know, when putts start dropping, it's a good day."

Crediting yoga as a catalyst behind his recent resurgence, the Australian-based 37-year-old added: "With the injury I looked at stuff that I could personally sort of be better at and I started going back into the gym and I felt really compressed.

"There's a nice little coffee shop in Perth next door and there's a yoga place next door and I was like, 'do you know what? I'm just going to wander in and have a look in, ask a few questions' and I found this yoga teacher and she has been brilliant."

Hill, a two-time runner-up already this season, became a father for the first time to son, Joshua, last month and he will hope to bring silverware back from Austria after putting himself firmly in the mix to contend for a third DP World Tour title.

Spaniard Cabrera Bello, who is a former champion of Austria's national open having won in 2009, backed up his opening 64 with a 66 as he aims to continue his love affair with the country.

Kaneko won twice on the Japan Golf Tour in 2025 as he topped their order of merit to earn exempt status on the DP World Tour for the 2026 season.

After making his Major Championship debut at the US PGA Championship earlier this month, the 23-year-old finished tied second last week at the Soudal Open.

Zhou of China, the DP World Tour's youngest member this season, is in a six-way share of fifth place after a level-par 70, with last year's runner-up Marcel Schneider, Brandon Robinson Thompson, Tobias Jonsson and French pair Alexander Levy and Tom Vaillant at -8

Austrian duo Sepp Straka and Maximilian Steinlechner are both at -7 four back of the lead, ensuring the possibility of a home winner is a distinct possibility.

europeantour.com

Bryan Angus (edit)