DEFENDING CHAMPION: Inaugural event.

COURSE: The picturesque Adamstal Golf Club welcomes the European and Challenge Tour this week, sure to offer breathtaking mountain views and the added challenge of altitude for the assembled field.

The original nine hole layout at the venue owned by a former rally car driver was extended to 18 holes by Canadian Jeff Howes who counts experience working with Jack Nicklaus among his extensive design career.

Stretched to nearly 6,500 yards this week, the Adamstal Championship course features heavily tree lined holes that utilise the existing terrain, with some of the most dramatic coming on the back nine.

PRIZEMONEY: EUR 500,000.

PLAYERS TO WATCH …

Joost Luiten seems desperate to play some tournament golf as one of the few big names teeing it up in both Austrian events on the European Tour. The Dutchman recorded a tidy T18 in his return to competition last week at the Diamond Country Club and will fancy his chances of improving on that result here.

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Ranked inside the top-100 in the wolrd, Luiten is among the better ball strikers on the European Tour when he is on and the Adamstal layout appears one to favour players able to control both distance and flight throughout the bag.

RIGHT: Six-time European Tour winner Joost Luiten is rightfully among the favourites this week in Austria. PHOTO: Stuart Franklin/Getty Images.

Zimbabwean Scott Vincent continues to search for a maiden big Tour win and should be one to keep an eye on this week in the mountains. A former Virginia Tech college player, Vincent shared 25th last week and possess a game without clear weaknesses that just needs some putts to drop for his confidence to rise.

Hailing from Geelong via the Gold Coast, Deyen Lawson will be the lone Aussie in action for the second consecutive week on the European Tour. Just teeing it up last week was an achievement for Lawson after last minute arrangements to allow him to leave Australia and return to the world’s second biggest circuit, making his made cut and 31st an impressive achievement.

Lawson has yet to make a significant mark in Europe, but you can be sure he will fly the Aussie flag proudly again this week.

AUSTRALIANS IN THE FIELD: Deyen Lawson.