KLM Open features mix of international stars and strong Dutch players
With just one month to go until the start of the KLM Open (June 4–7), the organization today outlined the first details of the 106th edition during an informal media update at The International. Alongside a strong international field, the organization also presented this year’s theme: “Start of the 2026 Sports Summer”, a nod to the sporting summer the Netherlands is preparing for.
The KLM Open, part of the DP World Tour, is one of the oldest tournaments on the calendar and has grown into one of the most popular stops among international players. Not only because of the course and atmosphere, but also due to its rich history filled with legendary names. Seve Ballesteros claimed his very first Tour victory here, a moment that still resonates in the history of the sport exactly fifty years later.
This year once again, the KLM Open positions itself as more than just top-level golf: an event where history, atmosphere, and national sports culture come together under the motto Great golf, good times.
Diverse player field
Tournament Director of Sport Daan Slooter provided a first look at the player field. Confirmed names include:
- Joost Luiten (tournament ambassador)
- Connor Syme (defending champion)
- Francesco Molinari (Open Champion)
- Danny Willett (Masters champion)
- Sami Välimäki (PGA Tour player)
- Bernd Wiesberger (Ryder Cup player and recent winner of the Volvo China Open)
- Darius van Driel (recently tied for fourth place at the Turkish Open)
- Mason Howell (reigning US Amateur champion)
Please find a PDF with player bios here.
In addition, at least thirteen other Dutch players and several young DP World Tour talents will be part of the field.
“With this mix of international stars, strong Dutch players, and the emerging young generation, we continue building a competitive and attractive tournament,” said Slooter. “The Orange fever is also clearly present at the KLM Open, with top Dutch players such as Joost Luiten and Darius van Driel.”
Warming Up for the 2026 Sports Summer
Tournament Director Ruud Gullit emphasized the broader event experience:
“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.”
10 years of ABN AMRO MeesPierson Beat the Pro
This year, the KLM Open is once again brought to life by strong partners and sponsors. One of the most notable examples is ABN AMRO MeesPierson Beat the Pro, which celebrates its tenth anniversary this year. What started as a bold experiment has grown into a fan favorite and a permanent part of the KLM Open. In collaboration with Beat the Pro partner ABN AMRO MeesPierson, amateurs once again get the chance to compete against the professionals.
This anniversary year also adds an extra dimension. Ahead of the tournament, a Beat the Pro element has been added to club competitions at ten golf clubs across the Netherlands. The best players qualify for a final day, where the ultimate winner earns a spot in the official ABN AMRO MeesPierson Beat the Pro during the KLM Open – bringing club golfers and tour professionals closer together than ever before.
