Ashun Wu defends Lyoness Open powered by Organic+

The European Tour heads for Austria this week and the Lyoness Open powered by Organic+ at the Diamond Country Club in Atzenbrugg. Ashun Wu of China is the defending champion.

A strong field has assembled at the Diamond Country Club near Vienna this week to contest the Lyoness Open. The event began life in 1990 as The Austrian Open when Bernhard Langer was champion and this is the 12th time the tournament has appeared on the European Tour schedule since it was reinstated to the main circuit in 2006.

Former champions of the tournament include Paul McGinley, Rafa Cabrera Bello and Joost Luiten. Last season Ashun Wu of China claimed his second European Tour title, finishing one clear of Spain’s Adrian Otaegui.

Tournament ambassador Bernd Wiesberger will be hoping to win his home event for a second time, having triumphed in 2012. The 31-year-old is excited to return to Diamond Country Club.

"It is always something special to compete in front of a home crowd and I can already look back on several good results and many great memories of the Lyoness Open,” said Wiesberger.

“The Diamond Course offers ideal conditions to prepare for the US Open that will take place the following week. I am convinced that the course will again be presented in an excellent state.”

Other top names on the start sheet in Austria this week include Chris Wood, the 2015 winner coming in to the event on the back of a strong week in Sweden,  former winner Joost Luiten and a host of others.

Opened for play in 2000, the course at Diamond Country Club took over as host venue for the Austrian Open in 2010. It’s an interesting Jeremy Pern design featuring water hazards on nine of the 18 holes.

The weather forecast looks set fair, although it could be rather hot with temperatures in the low 30s centigrade.

Venue: Diamond Country Club, Atzenbrugg, Vienna, Austria Date: June 8-11 Course stats: par 72, 7,417 yards Purse: €1,000,000 Defending Champion: Ashun Wu (Chn)

TV Coverage: Thursday 8 – Sky Sports 4 from 10am Friday 9 – Sky Sports 4 from 10am Saturday 10 – Sky Sports 4 from 10.30am Sunday 11 – Sky Sports 4 from 10.30am

Player Watch:

Chris Wood – The Englishman has won on this course before and will be hoping to pick up a second title. He will be looking to bounce back strongly from a disappointing finish to his campaign in last week’s Nordea Masters, where he bogeyed the final hole to miss a playoff by a shot.

Chris Wood - Mizuno MP5s

Benjamin Hebert – The Frenchman has been on solid form in recent events and had a chance in Sweden last week but faded to a tie for eighth with a last round of 75. He should feel confident that he is playing well though.

Joost Luiten – Another past winner of this event, Joost has been playing steadily this year and is currently 39th on the Race to Dubai standings.

Key hole: 16th – A par-4 of some 420 yards, it’s not length that’s the problem on this one, it’s water. There’s water all down the right side for the tee shot, then it lurks right, left and long for the approach.