KLM Open 2026 preview, picks & analysis

SCOTLAND’S Connor Syme returns to the Netherlands to defend his KLM Open title this week.

The Scot claimed his breakthrough victory in Amsterdam last year and takes his place among a mix of international stars and strong Dutch players.

The 29-year-old went into the final round with a two-shot lead over playing partner Joakim Lagergren and finished up with the same advantage following a brilliant closing eagle from the Swede.

Syme ended the tournament on 11 under after shooting a one-under-par 70 on Sunday and making only one bogey in his final 38 holes. 

"Unbelievable, it was so, so difficult the last few days," said Syme after securing his maiden DP World Tour title. 

He finished two shots clear of Sweden's Joakim Lagergren, with South Africa's Jayden Schaper third. Ewen Ferguson, Richie Ramsay and Jack Senior shared fourth place.

As we reach the halfway point in the season, it is worth taking a look at the Race to Dubai standings. At the end of the year, the top 10 players who do not already have one will receive much-coveted PGA Tour cards.

Whilst not playing this week, Patrick Reed leads the way on 2,670.92 points, closely followed by Rory McIlroy. In third is Jayden Schaper, followed by Casey Jarvis, Aaron Rai, Andy Sullivan, Dan Bradbury, Shaun Norris, Michael Lindberg and David Puig. Reed has his card sewn up and it would be a huge surprise if Schaper and Jarvis were to miss out. I also expect more big things from Spain’s David Puig, who is one of the most gifted young golfers on the planet.

Just a couple of weeks ago, if you had suggested to anybody that Richard Sterne might also be a contender then you would have been laughed out of court but his victory at the Soudal Open has changed everything for him. He has faced a long and painful struggle with injuries but never stopped believing that he would one day find himself back in the winners’ circle.

Also in the field are major champions Francesco Molinari and Danny Willett along with Finland's Sami Välimäki, who won his first PGA Tour title at The RSM Classic in November. Välimäki is a hugely entertaining golfer. He knows only one way to play the game - and that is to attack.

Another confirmed name set to tee it up is Bernd Wiesberger, a recent winner of the Volvo China Open and the Austrian heads into the tournament targeting a 10th DP World Tour title and perhaps starting to dream about claiming a PGA Tour card at the end of the campaign.

(Image Credit: Kevin Diss Photography)

Joost Luiten, a two-time winner of the KLM Open, will lead a strong home challenge that will feature at least 13 other Dutch players, including Darius van Driel. Luiten is widely regarded as being one of the best putters on the DP World Tour.

Tournament Director Ruud Gullit said: “This will be an edition full of orange energy. The KLM Open marks the start of the sporting summer, and you will feel that atmosphere throughout The International. All our volunteers will be dressed in orange, and we encourage visitors, partners, and media to wear orange as well. Our Dutch tour professionals will do the same.”

Yurav Premlall is still pinching himself after his incredible performance in winning the Catalunya Championship with a scarcely-credible total of 260, a mind-boggling 28 under par. He followed it with a decent week in Belgium and is absolutely determined to prove that his Soul Open success was not a flash in the pan.

Lindberg is a player who has been tipped to achieve big things. He won the Turkish Airlines Open, finished third at the Volvo China Open, tied 13th in Bahrain and tied 14th at the Alfred Dunhill Championship. He has missed just one cut all season, at the Hero Indian Open on a brutal golf course where many others also struggled.

American Mason Howell, the 18-year-old winner of the U.S. Amateur Championship last year, is also in the field. In 2025, Howell captured the prestigious U.S. Amateur Championship, becoming the third-youngest winner in the tournament’s history. A title long regarded as a springboard to the global stage, it also earned him a place in the U.S. Open, and he represented the United States in the 2025 Walker Cup.

"With this mix of international stars, strong Dutch players, and the emerging young generation, we continue building a competitive and attractive tournament,” said Tournament Director of Sport Daan Slooter.

Tournament winners:

It was won in 2015 by Thomas Pieters, in 2016 by Joost Luiten, in 2017 by Romain Wattel, in 2018 by Ashun Wu, in 2019 by Sergio Garcia, in 2021 by Kristoffer Broberg, in 2022 by Victor Perez, in 2024 by Pablo Larrazabal and last year by Connor Syme. There was no tournament in 2020 because of the pandemic.

The course:

Designed by Ian Woosnam and opened in 2012, The International is located close to Schiphol Airport - some would say too close! The greens are large and undulating and the course also features plenty of water hazards and bunkers, several doglegs and a number of blind shots. It is a par 73 measuring 7,286 yards and promises to be a tough test.

Prize money:

Total prize money is $2.75m, with 3,500 Race to Dubai points going to the winner.

How to watch:

Thursday, June 4, Friday, June 5, Saturday, June 6, Sky Sports Golf, midday; Sunday, June 7, Sky Sports Golf, 11.30am

Form guide:

Michael Lindberg has already won in Turkey and has his eyes on a PGA Tour card.

To win:

Michael Lindberg. The finished article

Each way:

Connor Syme. Looking for some positive memories

Each way:

Casey Jarvis. Sensational South African

Five to follow:

Michael Lindberg. Could become a serial winner

Connor Syme. Gritty Scot

Casey Jarvis. Fabulous player

Eugenio Chacarra. Fantastic short game

Thriston Lawrence. Proven winner

Five outsiders to watch:

Joost Luiten. Proud Dutch golfer

Mason Howell. One for the future

Pablo Larrazabal. Former champion, now struggling

Guus Lafeber. Top Dutch amateur

Danny Willett. Looking for a way back