Nicolas Colsaerts – Player Bio
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Belgian Nicolas Colsaerts is one of Europe’s in-form players, and seemingly a matchplay expert having won the 2012 Volvo World Matchplay Championship.
He claimed his first European Tour title at the Volvo China Open in 2011, before reaching the semi-finals of the 2011 Volvo World Match Play Championship in Spain, losing to eventual winner Ian Poulter after a playoff hole in the semi-finals. His steady season saw him finish the year 20th in the Race to Dubai.
In May 2012, he won his biggest career title at the Volvo World Matchplay Championship when he beat Graeme McDowell 1 up in the final. He also beat Justin Rose 4&3, Brandt Snedeker 4&3 and Paul Lawrie at the 20th hole in the semi-final, after beginning match four down after four holes. The win sprung Colsaerts up to world number 32.
Colsaerts played in the 2012 U.S. Open at the Olympic Club and made the cut for the first time in a major championship, going on to finish tied 27th. For a brief period during the third round Colsaerts was tied for the lead and started the final round just three strokes back of the leaders. However he fell away with a final round of 76. At The Open he faired slightly better, tieing for second after the first round. A second round 77 killed his chances of winning, but he managed to re-group well to finish T7.
The 29-year-old finished 11th in the Ryder Cup rankings and was eventually picked by captain Jose Maria Olazabal who wanted a long hitter to tackle Medinah. He will be looking to re-pay the Spaniard’s faith by claiming some vital points in his first Ryder Cup.
