Wales Open Tournament on the European Tour
First played: 2000
Last played: 2022
In the 2004 Wales Open, Simon Khan won a playoff over Paul Casey. Earlier in the tournament he tied the European Tour's 9-hole scoring record with a 27. Two years later, Robert Karlsson opened his eventual victory by scoring 189 over the first 54-holes, which was a Euro Tour scoring record for the first three rounds of a tournament.
Karlsson won on 260 in 2006, which remained the tournament's scoring record (but note that the golf course was a par-69 that year). The largest margin of victory belonged to Paul Lawrie, five strokes in 2002. The event's 18-hole scoring record was 60, recorded by Phillip Archer in 2006.
Graeme McDowell's victory in 2010 came two weeks before he won the 2010 U.S. Open, and was one of four victories around the world for him that year.
The Wales Open came into existence in 2000 when Celtic Manor Resort entered into an agreement with the European Tour that included hosting this tournament along with the 2010 Ryder Cup. The tournament ended along with that agreement following the 2014 event, but returned in 2020 for several more years. Don't be surprised if it comes back again in the future, as national Opens have a tendency to do.
Winners of the European Tour Wales Open
2000 — Steen Tinning, 2732001 — Paul McGinley, 138 (def. Paul Lawrie, Darren Lee in playoff; tournament shortened to 36 holes due to rain)
2002 — Paul Lawrie, 272
2003 — Ian Poulter, 270
2004 — Simon Khan, 267 (def. Paul Casey in playoff)
2005 — Miguel Angel Jimenez, 262
2006 — Robert Karlsson, 260
2007 — Richard Sterne, 263
2008 — Scott Strange, 262
2009 — Jeppe Huldahl, 275
2010 — Graeme McDowell, 269
2011 — Alex Noren, 275
2012 — Thongchai Jaidee, 278
2013 — Gregory Bourdy, 276
2014 — Joost Luiten, 270
2015−2019 — Not played
2020 — Romain Langasque, 276
2021 — Nacho Elvira, 268 (def. Justin Harding in playoff)
2022 — Callum Shinkwin, 272
Also known as: The Wales Open had many title sponsors and other names over the years. It debuted in 2000 as the Celtic Manor Resort Wales Open, and that name was shortened to Celtic Manor Wales Open in 2004. In 2011 it became the Saab Wales Open, in 2012 the ISPS Handa Wales Open, and in 2021 the Cazoo Open.
Sources:
Corrigan, James. "Wales Open becomes latest professional tournament to bite the dust after being handed last rites by Celtic anor," September 19, 2014, https://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/golf/europeantour/11110305/Wales-Open-becomes-latest-professional-tournament-to-bite-the-dust-after-being-handed-last-rites-by-Celtic-Manor.html.
EuropeanTour.com. DP World Tour, Schedule, Cazoo Open supported by Gareth Bale 2022, https://www.europeantour.com/dpworld-tour/cazoo-open-supported-by-gareth-bale-2022/.
EuropeanTour.com. Stats, Records & Achievements, https://www.europeantour.com/dpworld-tour/stats/records-and-achievements/.
