Conor Purcell will make the step up from the Challenge Tour to the DP World Tour as the Soudal Open in Belgium kicks off the European swing.
The European Swing marks the fourth of five Global Swings on the 2024 Race to Dubai. Running from the Soudal Open to the BMW International Open, the Swing features six counting events in five countries with 3,000 Race to Dubai Ranking points on offer at each and a host of strong incentives for the ultimate Swing Champion.
Purcell is Ireland’s only representative at Rinkven International GC as he looks to get back in the groove after a few weeks off.
The Portmarnock man registered back to back top-10s in the UAE on the Challenge Tour before returning home and he won’t be overawed by stepping up to the DP World Tour this week.
“I feel a lot more comfortable playing a DP World Tour event or Challenge Tour event. Earlier in my career I would have felt out of my depth,” said Purcell who enjoyed a career high T7 at the Australian Open last season.
One player who is certainly likely to draw huge crowds is European Ryder Cup Captain Luke Donald.
Having won the Ryder Cup last year in Italy, the Englishman is set for his debut at the Soudal Open and has a connection to Belgium through his friend and Team Europe Vice Captain Nicolas Colsaerts.
The two players won the Ryder Cup together at Medinah in 2012 and former World Number One Donald is excited by the opportunity to play in Belgium for the first time.
“Moreover, being a small country on the map, Belgium has certainly bloomed with so much golfing talent on the international scene,” he said.
“And I would like to say a special thanks to Soudal to support our wonderful sport not only in Belgium but also on the DP World Tour around the globe!”