There are 12 events remaining on the schedule following this weeks’ D+D Czech Masters and nine of them feature purses of three million Euro or higher.

This week’s field has lost some players to the Korn Ferry Tour’s Finals series but there are some recognisable names in a tournament which has proved entertaining in the past.

This is the eighth staging of the event at the Albatross Golf resort in a part of the world where golf might fairly be described as a fringe sport at best.

DEFENDING CHAMPION: American Johannes Veerman claimed his first Tour title courtesy of his own good play and the stumbles of the third-round leader.

Finland’s Tapio Pulkkanen was two ahead at the start of the day but a roller coaster round – including a bogey-double bogey finish – dropped him to a share of second place two behind Veerman.

RIGHT: Johannes Veerman took home the trophy in 2021 when he fired a final day 68. PHOTO: Oisin Keniry/Getty Images.

The American’s final round 68 was one of the better scores on what proved a difficult final day, a bogey at the 11th his only blemish of an otherwise impressive round.

COURSE: Albatross Golf Resort was opened in 2009 and is considered one of the best handful of courses in the Czech Republic.

Financed by local entrepreneur and golf lover Jiri Simane, professional golf has always been part of the resort’s purpose as Simane believes hosting professional tournaments is vital in showing off the Republic as a golf destination.

Twice host to the Ladies European Tour in 2011 and 2012, the course has been part of the DP World Tour schedule since 2014 and proved a worthy host to a tournament which has seemingly cemented its place in the schedule.

Results would suggest the course is one which favours long hitters with Thomas Pieters twice a winner here and last year’s runner up, Tapio Pulkkanen, one of the longest drivers on the European circuit.

Wide fairways and large greens allow the longer but less accurate players to contend while mostly shallow bunkering make for less challenging recovery play.

Water, however, is plentiful on the course, especially over the closing holes and nowhere more dangerous than the par-4 18th.

A creek running down the right of the fairway is offset by a lake down the left which then cuts in front of the green and has to be carried with the second shot.

It has brought more than one player undone and always makes for a tense finish to the event.

Thomas Pieters is a two-time winner of this event and arrives in food form. PHOTO: Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images.
 
PRIZEMONEY: US$1,750,000

PLAYERS TO WATCH: Thomas Pieters stands out on two fronts in this field. Not only is he the highest ranked player but he is a two-time winner of the event.

Add a runner-up result in 2016 to the victories of 2015 and 2019 and it’s obvious the Belgian has a liking for the course.

With 14 starts for the season and four top-10 finishes in that span (including a win in January in Abu Dhabi), Pieters is in decent form.

His T28 at The Open last start was highlighted by back-to-back rounds of 67 on Friday and Saturday and a closing 71 would not have dented his confidence.

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Pieters won’t have things all his own way, of course, and among those likely to contend Sunday afternoon is Frenchman Victor Perez.

Like Pieters he has a win to his credit this season and was also solid in his last outing at St Andrews where he finished T34.

Unlike Pieters, however, he has no form at this event or venue as this year marks his first trip to play the tournament.

American Sean Crocker was joint runner-up last year and a winner two starts ago in Scotland but his form this year has been erratic.

He missed the cut last week (his 12th in 19 starts this year) and he has just one other top-10 finish in 2022.

However, confidence from his recent victory coupled with familiarity of this course might be just the tonic for his game and he could be a factor come Sunday.

72-HOLE RECORD: 266 (Andrea Pavan, 2018)

18-HOLE RECORD: 64 (Sebastian Soderberg 2021, Paul Peterson 2016)

PAST AUSSIE WINNERS: No Australians have won this event.

AUSTRALIANS IN THE FIELD: Elvis Smylie, Austin Batista, Maverick Antcliff, Jordan Zunic, Zach Murray, Jake McLeod and Dimi Papadatos

TV TIMES*
Round 1: Thursday (Fox Sports 505 9pm – 2am)
Round 2: Friday (Fox Sports 505 9pm – 2am)
Round 3: Saturday (Fox Sports 505 10.45pm – 1.30am)
Round 4: Sunday (Fox Sports 505 9pm – 1.30am)
*AEST, check local guides