Tournament: D+D REAL Czech Masters
Race to Dubai: Tournament 31 of 44
Closing Swing: Tournament 4 of 5
Venue: PGA National OAKS Prague, Prague, Czech Republic
Prize Fund: US$2,500,000
Hashtag: #CzechMasters #DPWT
Dan Brown is hoping to lean on some of the learnings from his career-best finish at The Open last month when he returns to DP World Tour action at the D+D REAL Czech Masters.
The Englishman endeared himself to the galleries at Royal Troon as he led the final men’s Major Championship of the year after the opening round, before staying in contention and finishing in a tie for tenth.
The 29-year-old now arrives at PGA National OAKS Prague this week full of confidence, with a newfound sense of how to handle the pressure on the biggest stage after teeing it up alongside 2019 Open Champion Shane Lowry and World Number One Scottie Scheffler over the weekend on his Major debut.
Brown, whose breakthrough win came at the 2023 ISPS HANDA World Invitational, will be joined in the Czech Republic by another first-time winner in countryman Todd Clements, who earned his maiden DP World Tour title in this event last year.
The 2022 Challenge Tour graduate posted a stunning closing round of 63 to win by one and will attempt to defend his crown this week at a new golf course, with the tournament celebrating its tenth anniversary by moving to PGA National OAKS Prague.
Ryder Cup Captain Luke Donald tees it up in this event for the second year in succession, along with his Vice Captain Edoardo Molinari and his brother Francesco, with the 2018 Open Champion aiming to improve on his tie for 31st at the 2023 D+D REAL Czech Masters.
The Ryder Cup theme continues with Brandt Snedeker, who was earlier this week named as one of Keegan Bradley’s Vice Captains for the US Team at next year’s biennial showpiece at Bethpage Black. The nine-time PGA TOUR winner makes his tournament debut this week, along with compatriot and 2013 US PGA Champion Jason Dufner.
The D+D REAL Czech Masters is the fourth of five tournaments in the Closing Swing, the last of the Global Swings phase on the Race to Dubai.
Player quotes
Dan Brown: “The Open was obviously very positive and I probably look back at it with more fond memories than when I was actually there. You get a bit engrossed in the whole atmosphere and you’re playing and you’re there and you’re trying to do a job.
“Since, I’ve probably actually enjoyed it more than when I was there so it’s quite nice, it’s been nice to reflect and hopefully we create some more memories next year.
“I think I learned that I can hold my own under the biggest pressure and against the best players and I felt comfortable. It didn’t feel like I was playing in a Major, it just felt like a normal golf tournament, which was nice.”
Todd Clements: “I’m delighted to come back and have some great memories from last year. It’s a new course that I have to scope out but I’m delighted to be back and ready to go again.
“It was an interesting week. Coming into Sunday I knew I had to have a really fast start. I didn’t take my chances coming in on Saturday and thought I was a bit too far back with how low-scoring it was.
“Fortunately I had a pretty special front nine and kept it going into the back nine and the emotions and feelings coming down 15 and 16 are something I’ll never forget.”
Brandt Snedeker: “I’m pretty excited. It’s my first time ever to Prague and the Czech Republic, my wife came over with me so we’re enjoying the city. It’s my first time on the golf course today, it looks great, so I’m looking forward to this week and some good golf.
“The city is beautiful. We had an opportunity yesterday to walk around and see the historical buildings and see how pretty the culture is, so we enjoyed that part of it. We don’t get a lot of that in the States so being able to see those old buildings and cool culture, it’s been fun so far and I’m looking forward to the rest of the week.
“I’m super excited, it’s going to be a cool Ryder Cup. I was fortunate to play a couple of them on home soil and to have one in New York is going to be really special. Keegan is one of my good buddies, he’s going to be a great captain. He’ll leave no stone unturned in trying to win back the Cup and I’m happy to help him with the team and get these guys ready to play.”
