Soudal Open - The debrief

Simon Forsström produced a fast finish under pressure to claim his maiden DP World Tour title as Sweden celebrated a one-two on the leaderboard at the Soudal Open. Here is everything you need to know from Rinkven International Golf & Country Club.

Forsström wins in 'second home' Belgium

In his rookie season on the DP World Tour after earning his long-awaited card at Qualifying School in November, Forsström demonstrated his resolve under pressure to enter the winner’s circle for the first time. The 34-year-old, out in front at the top of the leaderboard since the opening round, looked to be cruising to victory at the turn with a three-shot lead. However, winning is never easy and he found himself one shot behind fellow Swede Jens Dantorp – playing in the group ahead and also chasing his first Tour win – with six holes to play after dropping three shots in three holes. Undeterred, he quickly rediscovered his composure to make three birdies in a four-hole stretch from the 14th to hold a one-shot lead on the 18th tee. After Dantorp narrowly missed a birdie putt on the final hole to draw level at 17 under, Forsström fired his approach shot to within five feet as a two-putt par sealed the deal. Belgium is perhaps proving a lucky venue for Forsström, whose only European Challenge Tour success also came in the country at the KPMG Trophy in 2016. "I think the course suits me very well, it's pretty tight and short,” he said. "I won on the Challenge Tour in Belgium, so I think Belgium is good! It's pretty similar to Sweden, the trees and the grass, so I think I feel very at home here.” Victory on his 21st DP World Tour appearance moves him up 54 places to 17th in the Race to Dubai Rankings in Partnership with Rolex.

California calling

We are now halfway through the U.S. Open Qualification Series, with Forsström catapulting himself into second place on the standings behind last week’s winner Adrian Meronk. The top two aggregate points earners, who are not otherwise exempt, from the DS Automobiles Italian Open, Soudal Open, KLM Open and Porsche European Open will compete in the year's third Major Championship from June 15-18. A host of players who were in action in Belgium, including Forsström, also have the chance to secure their spot at The Los Angeles Country Club through Final Qualifying, which is being held at Walton Heath on Tuesday.

Olesen offers another Ryder Cup reminder

The Ryder Cup is a little over five months away and one player hoping to be back at the biennial spectacular for a second appearance is Thorbjørn Olesen. Already a winner this season in Thailand, the Dane held the clubhouse lead momentarily on the final day in Belgium as he climbed up the leaderboard with a flawless five-under 66 to finish in solo third. The result – his sixth top 20 in seven starts this season – lifts the seven-time DP World Tour winner to seventh on the European Points List, with the top three receiving automatic spots into Luke Donald’s European team at Marco Simone Golf & Country Club.

Detry stars on home soil

In his fourth career appearance at his national open, Thomas Detry wowed the home crowds as he pushed hard to celebrate a dream maiden DP World Tour title on home soil. Settling for a tie for seventh, the 30-year-old, who has been competing on the PGA TOUR in 2023 after earning his card via the Korn Ferry Tour, heads to Rochester, New York, in the knowledge his game is in good shape ahead of this week’s US PGA Championship.

Star potential

Lev Grinberg might not have been able to make the cut on his home course for the second year running but the 15-year-old’s ability was there for all to see over the opening two days. The Ukrainian amateur became the second-youngest player to make a cut in the Tour’s history at the age of 14 years, six months and six days last year and missed out on repeating the feat by just one shot this week. Shots like the one below on day one mean it is safe to say he will be a name we will be seeing a lot more of over the years to come.

Extraordinary eagle

Richie Ramsay produced one of the shots of the week during Friday’s second round as he spun his approach at the 17th – one of only two par fives on the course – into the hole for an eagle. The Scot took that positive energy into the weekend as he fired a 66 on Saturday to help him to a tie for seventh – his best finish of the campaign so far.