While Sergio Garcia won’t be on hand to defend his 2019 title this week at the European Tour’s Dutch Open, tournament ambassador and two-time champion Joost Luiten will be aiming for his first victory since the 2018 NBA Oman Open.
The 35-year-old Netherlands native won the event in 2013 and 2016, and regularly practices at Bernardus Golf, site of this year’s tournament. “I hope it will feel like coming home to a new course this year,” said Luiten, who finished T-10 in 2019. “I want to perform again, give some extras for the home crowd that can be present at tournaments again.” In 14 event appearances, he’s made eight cuts with the two wins and four other tops 10s, including runner-up in 2007. On the season, the six-time ET winner has made 15 cuts in 18 starts with two top 10s and he’s riding a streak of three straight finishes inside the top 35: He finished T-12 at the Czech Masters, T-18 at the Italian Open and T-35 at last week’s BMW PGA, where he birdied four of his last eight holes at Wentworth to finish with a 4-under 68.