It was a fairytale day for Joost Luiten, and for Dutch golf, as the 27-year-old defeated veteran Miguel Angel Jimenez in a playoff to win the KLM Open at Kennemer Golf Club, ten years after Maarten Lafeber also claimed victory on home soil. Coming just minutes after the impressive Daan Huizing’s victory on the Challenge Tour in Ukraine, Luiten’s win illustrated that the present and future of Dutch golf looks is in very good health.
After being tied at 12-under after a thrilling duel in the final round, Luiten and Jimenez returned to the 18th tee with thousands of Dutch spectators in attendance. In the end, a par would be enough for Luiten to win, after Jimenez’s effort missed by the smallest of margins. It is Luiten’s second victory of the season, his third overall, having won in Austria back in June, and he rises up to 11th in the Race to Dubai.
Luiten had come into Sunday with a one shot lead over Jimenez, who became the oldest winner in European Tour history back in November, but fell behind after the 49-year-old Spaniard rolled in three consecutive birdies between the second and fourth holes. After missing from just two feet on the 12th, Jimenez would take a two shot lead, with a birdie at the 13th proving even more beneficial with the Dutchman having bogeyed.
It was at this point that a Jimenez victory looked almost inevitable, with the 1994 winner of the Dutch Open seeking a 20th title on the European Tour. However, Luiten would bounce back with a birdie at the 14th, before Jimenez himself dropped a shot at the 15th. They were tied at this point at 13-under, but both players would then conspire to bogey the 17th.
Following closing pars at the 18th, Luiten would be triumphant after just one hole of the resulting playoff.
“Miguel was playing great, especially on the front nine when he started with four birdies in six holes and I was struggling a little bit, said Luiten.
”I made a few mistakes and although I saved par each time I thought to just hang in there until the back nine and hopefully I can make a move there and that happened.”
Six years ago, a 21-year-old Luiten would finish second to Ross Fisher at Kennemer. It was his first real taste of the limelight, and it gave him the motivation to one day ensure that other days of that nature would come.
“It was my first year and a great week but it definitely gave me the taste for more and to win it now I can't believe it yet, it's unbelievable. I think tonight it will hit me.”
It was a huge moment for Luiten, but he is also mindful of the impact that it will have on Dutch golf. Seeing a player from your country being successful, particularly on home soil, brings a sport to the national attention, and Luiten believes that his win could be significant.
“I don't know what it means for Dutch golf but I think it's pretty big. Maarten Lafeber won it in 2003 and that was huge, and to have another Dutch winner now I think it will help the game here and hopefully we can create more Dutch winners for this tournament.”
Miguel Angel Jimenez was typically magnanimous in defeat, and he certainly enjoyed contenting with the younger players on the Tour once again. “Joost played very well and there had to be only one winner. The Dutch Open deserved the winner.
”It was a tough day in the wind and not easy for anyone. I was happy to be in contention once more.”
Jimenez did note on Saturday that when playing alongside Luiten, the usual crowd favourite would be the second most popular player in the pairing, but the Spaniard was quick to compliment the conduct of the fans in attendance.
“They were mostly respectful, they applauded me at the end and I got a nice reception. So I still had a very good week – I have no complaints. I gave it my best shot –and I’m still alive!”
He is still alive and well, but so is golf in the Netherlands. With Luiten’s victory today, and Huizing’s continuing exploits on the Challenge Tour, Dutch golf hasn’t seen such a day for a very long time.