DEFENDING CHAMPION: Austrian Bernd Wiesberger returns having teed it up at Kiawah Island last week in the PGA Championship to defend his 2019 title. Wiesberger reached 14-under two years ago to defeat Scot Robert MacIntyre by a solitary stroke. 

COURSE: Himmerland Golf Resort & Spa has hosted five of the previous six Made in Himmerland events, and welcomes Europe’s best once again this week.

Originally designed by Jan Sederholm in 1992, the course underwent a redesign in preparation of the European Tour’s first visit in 2014 and will measure 6,751 yards this week while playing to a par of 71.

Bunkering and elevation changes are among the layout’s chief challenges, with the short par-3 16th hole always creating plenty of excitement.

PRIZEMONEY: EUR1,500,000.

PLAYERS TO WATCH …

Robert MacIntyre seems to almost make this list every time he tees it up on his home circuit and with good reason given his play over the past couple of years. But the World No.46 is particularly deserving this week.

MacIntyre was runner-up here to Wiesberger in 2019 and returns to Europe having recorded a very respectable T49 at the PGA Championship last week. A result that will have further enforced the man from Oban’s belief that he can be one of the best players in the game.

Still only a one-time winner on the European Tour, the 24-year-old will be hoping to keep his strong run of form going and could even throw his name into Ryder Cup considerations with some good results over the coming months.

RIGHT: Austria's Bernd Wiesberger poses with the trophy in 2019. PHOTO: Andrew Redington/Getty Images.

As the defending champion, Wiesberger is certainly among the favourites here this week.

Like MacIntyre, Wiesberger will have to deal with the travel element of returning from the US where he missed the cut at the year’s second major, but he is clearly comfortable on the Himmerland layout.

The World No.65 has played the majority of his golf in America this year with fairly mixed results and should enjoy a return to conditions he is more familiar with.

Jason Scrivener has reached his highest spot on the world rankings (111) after his strong showing at the PGA, where he shared 23rd and was the top Aussie.

The West Australian will have taken a big confidence boost from his play last week on an enormously tough test and looks closer than ever to securing a first ever European Tour win.

72-HOLE RECORD: American Julian Suri set the tournament scoring record of 265 on his way to a four shot win over David Horsey in 2017. He also jointly holds the record in relation to par (19-under) with Matt Wallace, Lee Westwood, Steven Brown and Jonathan Thomson, who all reached the mark in 2018 at Silkeborg Ry Golfklub before Wallace won in a playoff. 

PAST AUSSIE WINNERS: No previous Australian winners.

AUSTRALIANS IN THE FIELD: Maverick Antcliff, Jarryd Felton, Scott Hend, Min Woo Lee, Jake McLeod, Wade Ormsby, Dimi Papadatos and Jason Scrivener. 

TV TIMES*

Round 1: Thursday Fox Sports 503 LIVE 9pm – 2am)
Round 2: Friday (Fox Sports 503 LIVE 9pm – 2am)
Round 3: Saturday (Fox Sports 503 LIVE 10:30pm – 2am)
Round 4: Sunday (Fox Sports 507 LIVE 9:30pm – 2am)

*AEST, check local guides