Soudal Open
Tournament information
LocationAntwerp, Belgium
Established1910
Course(s)Rinkven International Golf Club
Par71
Length6,924 yards (6,331 m)
Tour(s)European Tour
FormatStroke play
Prize fundUS$2,000,000
Month playedMay
Tournament record score
Aggregate266 Lee Westwood (2000)
To par−18 as above
Current champion
Sweden Simon Forsström
Location Map
Rinkven International GC is located in Belgium
Rinkven International GC
Rinkven International GC
Location in Belgium

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]

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 was 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.

In 2021, it was announced that the tournament would make a return in 2022 and would revert to a stroke play event. It was sponsored by Soudal, and renamed as the Soudal Open.[3]

Format in 2018 and 2019

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

YearWinnerScoreTo parMargin of
victory		Runner(s)-upVenueRef.
Soudal Open
2023Sweden Simon Forsström267−171 strokeSweden Jens DantorpRinkven International
2022England Sam Horsfield271−132 strokesNew Zealand Ryan Fox
Germany Yannik Paul		Rinkven International
2020–21: No tournament
Belgian Knockout
2019Italy Guido Migliozzi−3[lower-alpha 1]4 strokesNetherlands Darius van DrielRinkven International
2018Spain Adrián Otaegui−3[lower-alpha 1]2 strokesFrance Benjamin HébertRinkven International
2001–2017: No tournament
Belgacom Open
2000England Lee Westwood (2)266−184 strokesArgentina Eduardo RomeroRoyal Zoute
1999Sweden Robert Karlsson272−121 strokeSouth Africa Retief Goosen
England Jamie Spence		Royal Zoute
1998England Lee Westwood268−16PlayoffSweden Freddie JacobsonRoyal Zoute
1995–1997: No tournament
Alfred Dunhill Open
1994England Nick Faldo279−5PlayoffSweden Joakim HaeggmanRoyal Zoute
1993Northern Ireland Darren Clarke270−142 strokesEngland Nick Faldo
Fiji Vijay Singh		Royal Zoute
Piaget Belgian Open
1992Spain Miguel Ángel Jiménez274−103 strokesEngland Barry LaneRoyal Zoute
Renault Belgian Open
1991Sweden Per-Ulrik Johansson276−12PlayoffEngland Paul BroadhurstRoyal Waterloo
Peugeot-Trends Belgian Open
1990Sweden Ove Sellberg272−164 strokesWales Ian WoosnamRoyal Waterloo
Volvo Belgian Open
1989England Gordon J. Brand273−114 strokesEngland Kevin DickensRoyal Waterloo
1988Spain José María Olazábal269−154 strokesUnited States Mike SmithRoyal Bercuit
1987Republic of Ireland Eamonn Darcy200[lower-alpha 2]−131 strokeEngland Nick Faldo
Northern Ireland Ronan Rafferty
Wales Ian Woosnam		Royal Waterloo
Belgian Open
1980–1986: No tournament
1979South Africa Gavan Levenson279−53 strokesSouth Africa Bobby Cole
England Nick Faldo
England Michael King		Royal Waterloo
1978Australia Noel Ratcliffe280−121 strokeAustralia Chris TicknerRoyal GC Belgium
1959–1977: No tournament
1958England Ken Bousfield2713 strokesArgentina Antonio CerdáRoyal GC Belgium[4]
1957England Bernard Hunt280PlayoffWales Dai ReesRoyal Latem[5]
1956Belgium Flory Van Donck (5)2698 strokesSpain Ángel MiguelRoyal Latem[6]
1955Wales Dave Thomas2901 strokeBelgium Arthur DevulderRoyal GC des Fagnes[7]
1954Wales Dai Rees2871 strokeItaly Aldo Casera
Australia Norman Von Nida		Royal Antwerp[8]
1953Belgium Flory Van Donck (4)2709 strokesFrance Henri de Lamaze (a)Royal Waterloo[9]
1952Argentina Antonio Cerdá2864 strokesSouth Africa Brian WilkesRoyal GC des Fagnes[10]
1951France Albert Pélissier2795 strokesBelgium Flory Van Donck
Egypt Hassan Hassanein		Royal Latem[11]
1950Argentina Roberto De Vicenzo2824 strokesArgentina Antonio CerdáRoyal Zoute[12]
1949Scotland Jimmy Adams2832 strokesEngland Max FaulknerRoyal GC des Fagnes[13]
1948Scotland Willie Forrester288Royal GC Belgium
1947Belgium Flory Van Donck (3)283Royal GC des Fagnes
1946Belgium Flory Van Donck (2)2894 strokesScotland Willie ForresterRoyal Waterloo
1940–1945: No tournament due to World War II
1939Belgium Flory Van Donck2911 strokeEngland Max FaulknerRoyal GC Belgium[14]
1938England Henry Cotton (3)27713 strokesEngland Arthur LaceyRoyal Waterloo[15]
1937France Marcel Dallemagne (2)2854 strokesWales Dai ReesRoyal Zoute[16]
1936France Auguste Boyer (2)2851 strokeEngland Henry CottonRoyal GC des Fagnes[17]
1935England Bill Branch283PlayoffBelgium Flory Van DonckRoyal GC Belgium[18]
1934England Henry Cotton (2)2793 strokesEngland Percy AllissRoyal Waterloo[19]
1933France Auguste Boyer2823 strokesEngland Henry CottonRoyal GC des Fagnes[20]
1932England Arthur Lacey (2)2912 strokesFrance Auguste BoyerRoyal GC Belgium[21]
1931England Arthur Lacey3011 strokeFrance Marcel Dallemagne
France Pierre Hirogoyen		Royal GC des Fagnes[22]
1930England Henry Cotton28111 strokesEngland Archie CompstonRoyal GC Belgium[23]
1929South Africa Sid Brews3001 strokeJersey Aubrey BoomerRoyal Antwerp[24]
1928England Albert Tingey Jr.2973 strokesEngland Jack TaylorRoyal GC Belgium[25]
1927France Marcel Dallemagne140Royal Zoute
1926Jersey Aubrey Boomer (2)1379 strokesJersey Percy BoomerRoyal Zoute[26]
1925France Eugène Lafitte (2)1421 strokeEngland Arthur HaversRoyal Antwerp[27]
1924United States Walter Hagen1433 strokesJersey Aubrey BoomerZoute
1923Jersey Percy Boomer1451 strokeJersey Aubrey BoomerRoyal GC Belgium[28]
1922Jersey Aubrey Boomer1501 strokeIsle of Man Charles Corlett
France Marius Cavallo		Royal GC Belgium[29]
1921France Eugène Lafitte14510 strokesEngland George PannellRoyal GC Belgium
1920England Rowland Jones154PlayoffJersey Aubrey Boomer
England Henry Burrows		Zoute[30]
1915–1919: No tournament due to World War I
1914England Tom Ball (2)1444 strokesEngland Charles MayoRoyal Antwerp[31]
1913England Tom Ball1451 strokeScotland James BraidLombardsijde[32]
1912Scotland George Duncan144PlayoffEngland Tom Ball
Jersey Ted Ray		Royal GC Belgium[33]
1911England Charles Mayo1443 strokesFrance Arnaud MassyRoyal GC Belgium[34]
1910France Arnaud Massy1395 strokesScotland Sandy Herd
England Harry Vardon		Royal GC Belgium[35]

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.

Notes

  1. 1 2 Between 2018–19, the event used a knockout format. This is the score in the final.
  2. ↑ Shortened to 54 holes due to rain.

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. ↑ "European Tour Set To Return To Belgium In 2022 With Soudal Open". Golfmagic. 14 April 2021. Retrieved 7 August 2021.
  4. ↑ "Belgian Open title for Bousfield". The Times. 11 July 1958. p. 4.
  5. ↑ "Rees and Hunt tie for first place". The Times. 27 May 1957. p. 3.
  6. ↑ "Belgian Open". The Times. 11 June 1956. p. 3.
  7. ↑ "British golf win". The Glasgow Herald. 13 August 1955. p. 2.
  8. ↑ "Belgian Open golf title for Rees". The Times. 19 July 1954. p. 3.
  9. ↑ "Belgian Open championship". The Times. 12 August 1953. p. 9.
  10. ↑ "Belgian Open championship". The Times. 11 August 1952. p. 4.
  11. ↑ "British open golf championship". The Glasgow Herald. 7 August 1951. p. 2.
  12. ↑ "Ostend, July 24". The Times. 25 July 1950. p. 7.
  13. ↑ "Adams wins in Belgian". The Times. 15 August 1949. p. 6.
  14. ↑ "The Belgian Open championship". The Times. 12 August 1939. p. 4.
  15. ↑ "Cotton wins Belgian "Open"". The Glasgow Herald. 14 July 1938. p. 2.
  16. ↑ "Belgian Open title for Dellamagne". The Glasgow Herald. 23 July 1937. p. 4.
  17. ↑ "The Belgian Open championship". The Times. 11 August 1936. p. 6.
  18. ↑ "Belgian Open championship". The Times. 9 July 1935. p. 7.
  19. ↑ "Cotton wins the Belgian Open". The Glasgow Herald. 15 August 1934. p. 7.
  20. ↑ "Boyer wins Belgian Open championship". The Times. 9 August 1933. p. 5.
  21. ↑ "Lacey wins Belgian championship". The Times. 20 June 1932. p. 6.
  22. ↑ "Belgian Open championship". The Times. 22 July 1931. p. 6.
  23. ↑ "Belgian championship". The Times. 30 June 1930. p. 4.
  24. ↑ "Belgian Open championship". The Times. 1 June 1929. p. 5.
  25. ↑ "Belgian championship". The Times. 19 June 1928. p. 7.
  26. ↑ "Belgian Open golf championship". The Times. 14 July 1926. p. 6.
  27. ↑ "Belgian Open golf championship". The Times. 5 October 1925. p. 16.
  28. ↑ "Golf". Le Gaulois (in French). 30 June 1923. p. 5. Retrieved 22 March 2023 – via Retro News.
  29. ↑ "Golf - Belgian open championship". The Times. 3 July 1922. p. 19.
  30. ↑ "Golf - Belgian professional championship". The Times. 14 July 1920. p. 6.
  31. ↑ "Belgian Open golf championship - Tom Ball's victory". The Times. 13 July 1914. p. 13.
  32. ↑ "Belgian Open championship - Victory of Tom Ball". The Times. 18 October 1913. p. 13.
  33. ↑ "Open championship of Belgium - Victory of Duncan". The Times. 6 July 1912. p. 13.
  34. ↑ "Belgian Open championship - Victory of C.H. Mayo". The Times. 1 June 1911. p. 14.
  35. ↑ "Open championship of Belgium - Victory of Arnaud Massy". The Times. 3 June 1910. p. 18.

51°16′51″N 4°34′25″E / 51.2807°N 4.5737°E / 51.2807; 4.5737

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