Lyoness Open Preview, Picks & Analysis

Post by Sports Writer Derek Clements

TWELVE months ago Bernd Wiesberger arrived in Austria as favourite to win the Lyoness Open. But cheered on by a passionate home crowd, Austria's best golfer failed to make the cut and headed home with his tail between his legs.

It is a safe bet that there will be no repeat at Diamond Country Club in Atzenbrugg, with Wiesberger is need of a morale-boosting performance. He has a good record on home soil, with three top five finishes to his name since it returned to The European Tour International Schedule in 2006. A fifth place finish in 2011 was bettered by victory in 2012, before he claimed runner-up two years later behind Mikael Lundberg, who triumphed courtesy of a huge birdie putt on the first extra hole of a playoff. 

In truth, Wiesberger has failed to live up to his huge potential. When he is good, he is world-class; when he is bad, he is truly awful.  He began the year with genuine Ryder Cup aspirations but will need to turn things around quickly if he is to achieve his dream. Returning to Austria could well be the trigger he needs.

“After last year I have a score to settle with the course and I will give my best to be able to play for the victory at the weekend,” said Wiesberger. “The past has shown that the course actually suits me, and so far the conditions have been ideal every year. If I am able to get good results at the big events, Ryder Cup qualification should work out automatically. You shouldn’t and can’t hope for a wild card pick.”

And if he needs any inspiration then he need only look towards the man who won here last year, a certain Chris Wood, of England, who has just added the BMW PGA Championship to his CV.  With the biggest win of his career behind him, it would be no surprise to see him make a successful defence at Atzenburgg. Wood has been an awfully good player for an awfully long time but needed a spell without injury and a big title to prove to himself that he truly belongs at the top of the game in Europe - he has now achieved both.

Were it not for the fact that he is defending champion, Wood might well have chosen to give this tournament a miss. In truth, the field is far from stellar, but that gives those who are taking part the chance to secure a precious two-year exemption.

The winner is more likely to be somebody who has been there, done that already. James Morrison has been playing some delightful golf of late and won himself a £150,000 BMW as a result of a hole in one in the BMW PGA Championship. With three tour titles to his name, the Englishman is due another victory, and this could well be the week he achieves it.

His biggest rival could easily be Joost Luiten. The 30-year-old Dutch golfer is one of the best putters in the game. He is a former winner of this event, in 2013 when he also won the KLM Open - it is 2014 since his last success but he keeps knocking at the door. Luiten has six top 10 finishes to his credit this season, including second at both the Shenzhen International and Spanish Open in successive weeks. He is riding high in the Race to Dubai but he needs and wants a win.

To Win

Bernd Wiesberger. Will be cheered all the way by home fans

Each Way

Joost Luiten. Getting closer and closer

Each Way

James Morrison. Underrated golfer

Fantasy Picks

Bernd Wiesberger. Needs a win for his own confidence

Joost Luiten. The door is about to open

James Morrison. The Englishman is due

Kristoffer Broberg. Has struggled since winning BMW Masters

David Lipsky. Solid American performer

Haydn Porteous. Already a winner this season

Roope Kakko. Ready to transform a poor year

Richard Bland. On the comeback trail

Eduardo de la Riva. Played very well at Wentworth

Sebastien Gros. Hugely talented French golfer