COURSE: The Twenty Ten Course at Celtic Manor Resort hosted the Ryder Cup in 2010 and was designed by Ross McMurray. It will play to 6,724 metres (par-71) this week.

PRIZEMONEY: €1,000,000.

RELATED: So-called expert golf tips for this week

PLAYERS TO WATCH …

Englishman Sam Horsfield won the inaugural Celtic Classic here last week to record his second victory in his last three starts.

The 23-year-old leads the UK swing order of merit and has moved to 80th in the Official World Golf Ranking, having started the year as World No.219.

Horsfield boasts a solid all-round game – and he has increased his average driving distance (296.5 metres) by an impressive 21 metres this season.

The Mancunian missed the cut at the English Championship after winning the Hero Open, so it will be interesting to see how he backs up his most recent title.

RIGHT: Horsfield won the Celtic Classic at Celtic Manor last week. PHOTO: Warren Little/Getty Images.

World No.72 Thomas Pieters made an impressive return to the European Tour last week, sharing third place at the Celtic Classic after spending five-plus months on the sidelines due to the coronavirus hiatus.

The big-hitting Belgian led after the first round last week and registered scores of 64, 68, 70 and 67.

Pieters, who captured his most recent victory at the Czech Masters this time last year, clearly enjoys the Twenty Ten layout and should certainly fancy his chances of claiming his fifth career Tour title this week.

72-HOLE RECORD: Sweden’s Robert Karlsson shot 16-under-par 260 when he defeated Paul Broadhurst by three shots in 2006. Aussie Scott Strange, meanwhile, fired 22-under-par 262 when he defeated Karlsson by four shots two years later in 2008.

PAST AUSSIE WINNERS: Scott Strange (2008).

AUSTRALIANS IN THE FIELD: Min Woo Lee, Jake McLeod, Zach Murray and Jason Scrivener.

TV TIMES*
Round 1: Thursday (Fox Sports 503 LIVE 10:30pm – 12:30am)
Round 2: Friday (Fox Sports 503 LIVE 10:30pm – 12:30am)
Round 3: Saturday (Fox Sports 503 LIVE 11pm – 4am)
Round 4: Sunday (Fox Sports 503 LIVE 8:30pm – 1am)
*AEST, check local guides