Nicolas Colsaerts

{{Infobox golfer

| name = Nicolas Colsaerts

| image = Nicolas Colsaerts Ryder Cup.jpg

| imagesize =

| caption = Colsaerts with the Ryder Cup

| fullname = Nicolas Colsaerts

| nickname = The Belgian Bomber

| birth_date = {{Birth date and age|1982|11|14|df=y}}

| birth_place = Schaerbeek, Belgium

| death_date =

| death_place =

| height = {{height|m=1.88|precision=0}}

| weight = {{convert|78|kg|lb st|abbr=on}}

| nationality = {{BEL}}

| residence = Rixensart, Wallonia

| spouse = Rachel

| partner =

| children = 2

| college =

| yearpro = 2000

| retired =

| tour = European Tour

| extour = PGA Tour

| prowins = 10

| pgawins =

| eurowins = 3

| japwins =

| asiawins =

| sunwins =

| auswins =

| nwidewins =

| chalwins = 2

| champwins =

| seneurowins =

| otherwins = 5

| majorwins =

| masters = CUT: 2013

| usopen = T10: 2013

| open = T7: 2012

| pga = CUT: 2012, 2013, 2016, 2017

| wghofid =

| wghofyear =

| award1 =

| year1 =

| award2 =

| year2 =

| awardssection =

}}

Nicolas Colsaerts (born 14 November 1982) is a Belgian professional golfer currently playing on the European Tour and previously on the PGA Tour.

Early life

Colsaerts, also known as "The Belgian Bomber",{{Cite web|url=https://sports.yahoo.com/news/golf-belgian-bomber-aims-overpower-pinehurst-231755707--golf.html|title=Golf-Belgian Bomber aims to overpower Pinehurst|date=12 June 2014|work=Yahoo Sports|access-date=6 October 2016}} was born in Schaerbeek, Belgium. Coming from a sporting family (his great grandfather represented Belgium at basketball and water polo at the 1920 Olympic Games{{Cite web|url=http://www.europeantour.com/europeantour/players/playerid=3456/bio/index.html|title=Nicolas Colsaerts Biography|publisher=European Tour|access-date=6 October 2016}}), he started playing golf at 6 years old in Brussels, Belgium.{{Cite web|url=http://results.nbcolympics.com/athletes/athlete=colsaerts-nicolas-1221191/index.html|title=Nicolas Colsaerts|website=NBC Olympics|publisher=NBC|access-date=6 October 2016}} He had a very successful junior and amateur career; he was selected twice for the Junior Ryder Cup (in 1997 and 1999), and represented Belgium at the 1998 and 2000 Eisenhower Trophy.

He turned professional in 2000, the day of his 18th birthday, with a +5 handicap.{{Cite web|url=http://www.nicolascolsaerts.com/amateur.php|title=Nicolas Colsaerts - Amateur|website=Nicolas Colsaerts official website|access-date=6 October 2016|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160921063829/http://www.nicolascolsaerts.com/amateur.php|archive-date=21 September 2016}}

Colsaerts speaks five languages: French, English, Dutch, Spanish and Italian.{{Cite web|url=https://www.golf.org.au/newsdisplay/the-european-colsaerts-in-his-second-home/102182|title=THE EUROPEAN: Colsaerts in his second home|date=14 November 2018|publisher=Golf Australia|access-date=20 October 2019}}

Professional career

Three days after turning professional Colsaerts entered 2000 Qualifying School where he gained his European Tour card.{{cite web |url=http://www.europeantour.com/europeantour/players/playerid=3456/bio/ |title=Nicolas Colsaerts - Bio |publisher=European Tour |access-date=18 September 2014}}{{cite news |last=Tait |first=Alistair |date=23 November 2000 |title=European Tour Qualifying School : Walker Cup trio earn Tour cards |url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/golf/2993253/European-Tour-Qualifying-School-Walker-Cup-trio-earn-Tour-cards.html |newspaper=The Daily Telegraph |location=London}}

Colsaerts first season on the European Tour was unsuccessful and having finished 172nd on the Order of Merit{{cite web |url=http://www.europeantour.com/europeantour/racetodubai/rankings/season=2001/index_full.html |title=2000 Volvo Order of Merit |publisher=European Tour |access-date=18 September 2014}} Colsaerts lost his European Tour card. He spent the 2002 season playing on the Challenge Tour and despite a winless season{{cite web |url=http://www.europeantour.com/europeantour/players/playerid=3456/record/index.html |title=Nicolas Colsaerts - Career Record |publisher=European Tour |access-date=18 September 2014}} he finished 10th of the Challenge Tour Order of Merit to regain his European Tour card for 2003.{{cite web |url=http://www.europeantour.com/challengetour/stats/index.html |title=Challenge Tour rankings 2002 |publisher=European Tour |access-date=18 September 2014}} Colsaerts continued to play on the European Tour throughout in next four seasons.

Colsaerts led the Nissan Irish Open at the halfway stage in 2006,{{cite web |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/golf/4999512.stm |title=Colsaerts takes Irish Open lead |work=BBC Sport |date=19 May 2006}} but fell away over the weekend and finished in a tie for 53rd place.{{cite web |url=http://www.europeantour.com/europeantour/season=2006/tournamentid=2006038/index.html |title=Nissan Irish Open - 2006 results |publisher=PGA European Tour |access-date=20 November 2012}} Similarly, he led the EnterCard Scandinavian Masters after the third round but finished tied for 24th.{{cite news |url=https://www.usatoday.com/sports/golf/euro/2006-08-05-scandinavian-masters_x.htm |newspaper=USA Today |title=Karlsson breaks course record to share Scandinavian Masters lead |date=6 August 2006 |agency=Associated Press |access-date=20 November 2012}} Following a poor season in 2007 when he finished 201st on the Order of Merit, Colsaerts again lost his European Tour card and returned to the Challenge Tour for the 2008 and 2009 seasons.{{cite web |url=http://www.europeantour.com/europeantour/racetodubai/rankings/season=2007/index_full.html |title=2007 Order of Merit |publisher=European Tour |access-date=18 September 2014}}

Colsaerts nearly won the 2009 Challenge of Ireland after a final round 68, but lost at the third hole of a sudden-death playoff to English golfer Robert Coles.{{cite news |date=15 June 2009 |title=Robert Coles on song for Europe after glory |url=https://www.mirror.co.uk/sport/other-sports/robert-coles-on-song-for-europe-after-400032 |newspaper=Daily Mirror |location=London}} However, he eventually captured his maiden victory on the Challenge Tour a few weeks later at the SK Golf Challenge{{cite web |url=http://www.europeantour.com/challengetour/season=2009/tournamentid=2009762/news/newsid=116148.html |title=Colsaerts Wins SK Golf Challenge after play-off |publisher=European Tour |access-date=18 September 2014}} and added the Dutch Futures later in October.{{cite web |url=http://www.europeantour.com/challengetour/season=2009/tournamentid=2009772/news/newsid=116304.html |title=Dutch delight for confident Colsaerts |publisher=European Tour |access-date=18 September 2014}} In 2010, he had a best finish of third at the BMW Italian Open,{{Cite web|url=https://www.eurosport.com/golf/italian-open/2010/live-individual-men_mtc693308/live.shtml|title = Individual - Men live - 6 May 2010|date = 6 May 2010}} and retained his tour card for 2011 after finishing 67th on the Race to Dubai rankings.{{cite web |url=http://www.europeantour.com/europeantour/racetodubai/rankings/season=2010/index_full.html |title=2010 Race to Dubai |publisher=European Tour |access-date=18 September 2014}}

In 2011 he won his first European Tour title at the Volvo China Open.{{cite news |url=http://www.espn.co.uk/golf/sport/story/87109.html |title=Colsaerts claims maiden title in China |work=ESPN|date=24 April 2011}} He then reached 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.{{cite news |title=Poulter denies Donald No. 1 |url=http://www.boston.com/sports/golf/articles/2011/05/23/poulter_denies_donald_world_no_1/ |newspaper=The Boston Globe|date=23 May 2011 |agency=Associated Press}} These results placed him high enough on the year's ranking to get him a spot for the 2011 Open Championship,{{cite web |title=Aiken punches his fifth ticket to the British |url=http://nbcsports.msnbc.com/id/33570381/ns/sports-player_news/ |work=MSNBC |date=29 May 2011 |access-date=31 May 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121011182314/http://nbcsports.msnbc.com/id/33570381/ns/sports-player_news/ |archive-date=11 October 2012 |url-status=dead }} and two days later he won the European qualifying tournament for the 2011 U.S. Open at Walton Heath Golf Club.{{cite web |title=Richie Ramsay arrives too late for US Open play-off |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/golf/13601725.stm |work=BBC Sport|date=31 May 2011}} He finished the season ranked 20th in the Race to Dubai to secure invitations to at least two majors in 2012.{{cite web |url=http://www.europeantour.com/europeantour/racetodubai/rankings/season=2011/index_full.html |title=2011 Race to Dubai |publisher=European Tour |access-date=18 September 2014}}

In May 2012, he won his biggest career title at the Volvo World Match Play Championship. He beat Graeme McDowell, 1 up, in the final and was never behind in the match at any point.{{cite news |url=https://www.belfasttelegraph.co.uk/sport/golf/colsaerts-wins-volvo-match-play-crown-28751450.html |title=Colsaerts wins Volvo Match Play crown |newspaper=Belfast Telegraph |date=20 May 2012}} On his way to the title he also beat Justin Rose 4 and 3,{{cite web |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/golf/18130033 |title=World Match Play: Ian Poulter and Justin Rose knocked out |work=BBC Sport |date=19 May 2012}} Brandt Snedeker 4 and 3,{{cite web |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/golf/18131391 |title=World Match Play: Paul Lawrie & Graeme McDowell reach semi-final |work=BBC Sport |date=19 May 2012}} and Paul Lawrie at the 20th hole in the semi-finals, after beginning four down after four holes. Prior to all of this, he had only just advanced from the group stage after defeating Charl Schwartzel at the first playoff hole. Colsaerts entered the top 50 in the world after his win took him to world number 32.{{cite web |url=http://www.owgr.com/news/2012/may/week-20 |title=Week 20 - Jason Dufner win the HP Byron Nelson Championship and moves to world number 14 |publisher=Official World Golf Ranking |date=21 May 2012}}

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.{{cite web |url=http://2012.usopen.com/en_US/scoring/index.html |title=2012 US Open - Final Scores |publisher=United States Golf Association |access-date=18 September 2014}} 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. On 27 August 2012, he was selected by European captain José María Olazábal as a wildcard for the 2012 Ryder Cup team, becoming the first Belgian to play in the event.{{cite web |url=http://www.independent.ie/breaking-news/sport/harrington-misses-out-on-wild-card-3212668.html |title=Harrington misses out on wild card |date=27 August 2012}} He finished the season ranked 11th on the Race to Dubai.{{cite web |url=http://www.europeantour.com/europeantour/racetodubai/rankings/season=2012/index_full.html |title=2012 Race to Dubai |publisher=European Tour |access-date=17 September 2014}} In October, Colsaerts joined the PGA Tour, accepting Special Temporary Member status for the final three events of the season.{{cite web |url=http://www.pgatour.com/news/2012/10/03/notebookap.html |title=Notes: Colsaerts takes up membership on PGA Tour |publisher=PGA Tour |date=3 October 2012}} Colsaerts made $677,011 as a non-member, finishing almost $30,000 ahead of Kevin Chappell, the golfer who earned the 125th and final PGA Tour card for 2013. The amount earned Colsaerts full membership into the PGA Tour for 2013.{{cite web |url=http://www.pgatour.com/tourreport/2012/11/five-internationals-join-tour-for-2013.html |title=Five internationals join Tour for 2013 |publisher=PGA Tour |date=20 November 2012}}

In 2013, Colsaerts played on both the European and PGA Tour; in the US, he finished tenth at the U.S. Open, 8th at the Zurich Classic of New Orleans and reached round of 16 of the WGC-Accenture Match Play Championship. With a final 128th place in the FedEx Cup he missed the end of season playoffs, but was able to retain his membership thanks to his 114th place in the money list.{{Cite web|url=http://www.pgatour.com/stats/stat.109.2013.html|title=2013 PGA Tour money list|date=6 October 2013|publisher=PGA Tour|access-date=6 October 2016}} He collected five top-10 finishes in the European Tour, with a fifth place at the Italian Open as best result.

In 2014 he finished second at the Portugal Masters and Malaysian Open, fourth at the Wales Open and sixth at the BMW Masters. His season was less successful in the US, where he was cut 7 times in 12 events and lost his tour membership.

During the 2015 season, Colsaerts finished seventh the Nordea Masters, ninth at the Paul Lawrie Match Play and 13th at the Qatar Masters.

In August 2016, Colsaerts represented Belgium at the 2016 Summer Olympics in the Individual Stroke Play competition, finishing tied for the 30th place.

In May 2017, he tied for third place in the BMW PGA Championship at Wentworth.

In October 2019, Colsaerts won the Open de France at Le Golf National outside of Paris, France.{{cite news |title=Colsaerts ends 7-year drought by winning French Open |url=https://www.apnews.com/d830961df094457eab2fc076163e6f70 |work=Associated Press |access-date=22 October 2019 |date=20 October 2019}}

In October 2024, at the Alfred Dunhill Links Championship, he finished second to Tyrrell Hatton. Hatton birdied the final hole to win by one stroke over Colsaerts.{{Cite web |title=Final hole birdie gives Hatton a record third title |url=https://www.alfreddunhilllinks.com/news-stories/final-hole-birdie-gives-hatton-a-record-third-title/ |access-date=2024-11-20 |website=www.alfreddunhilllinks.com}}

Amateur wins

2000 Belgian Stroke Play Championship, Belgian Match Play Championship, French International Boys Championship

Professional wins (10)

=European Tour wins (3)=

class="wikitable" style="font-size:95%;"

!No.

!Date

!Tournament

!Winning score

!Margin of
victory

!Runner(s)-up

align=center|1

|align=right|24 Apr 2011

|Volvo China Open¹

|−24 (65-67-66-66=264)

|4 strokes

|{{flagicon|DEN}} Søren Kjeldsen, {{flagicon|IRL}} Peter Lawrie,
{{flagicon|NZL}} Danny Lee, {{flagicon|ESP}} Pablo Martín

align=center|2

|align=right|20 May 2012

|Volvo World Match Play Championship

|colspan=2 align=center|1 up

|{{flagicon|NIR}} Graeme McDowell

align=center|3

|align=right|20 Oct 2019

|Amundi Open de France

|−12 (67-66-67-72=272)

|1 stroke

|{{flagicon|DEN}} Joachim B. Hansen

¹Co-sanctioned by the OneAsia Tour

=Challenge Tour wins (2)=

class="wikitable" style="font-size:95%;"

!No.

!Date

!Tournament

!Winning score

!Margin of
victory

!Runners-up

align=center|1

|align=right|9 Aug 2009

|SK Golf Challenge

|−11 (70-71-70-66=277)

|Playoff

|{{flagicon|WAL}} Rhys Davies, {{flagicon|FRA}} Julien Guerrier

align=center|2

|align=right|13 Sep 2009

|Dutch Futures

|−17 (69-66-67-69=271)

|4 strokes

|{{flagicon|SCO}} Andrew McArthur, {{flagicon|FRA}} Julien Quesne

Challenge Tour playoff record (1–2)

class="wikitable" style="font-size:95%;"

!No.!!Year!!Tournament!!Opponent(s)!!Result

style="background:#F2C1D1;"

|align=center|1

|2000

|DEXIA-BIL Luxembourg Open
(as an amateur)

|{{flagicon|DEN}} Nils Roerbaek-Petersen, {{flagicon|SWE}} Henrik Stenson

|Stenson won with birdie on second extra hole

style="background:#F2C1D1;"

|align=center|2

|2009

|Challenge of Ireland

|{{flagicon|ENG}} Robert Coles

|Lost to birdie on third extra hole

style="background:#D0F0C0;"

|align=center|3

|2009

|SK Golf Challenge

|{{flagicon|WAL}} Rhys Davies, {{flagicon|FRA}} Julien Guerrier

|Won with birdie on second extra hole

=Alps Tour wins (1)=

class="wikitable" style="font-size:95%;"

!No.

!Date

!Tournament

!Winning score

!Margin of
victory

!Runner-up

align=center|1

|align=right|15 May 2005

|Open de Bordeaux

|−23 (65-66-65-69=265)

|6 strokes

|{{flagicon|FRA}} Pierre Sallat

=French Tour wins (1)=

class="wikitable" style="font-size:95%;"

!No.

!Date

!Tournament

!Winning score

!Margin of
victory

!Runners-up

align=center|1

|align=right|4 Dec 2010

|Mauritius Golf Masters

|−9 (67-73-67=207)

|4 strokes

|{{flagicon|ZAF}} Darren Fichardt, {{flagicon|ZAF}} Hennie Otto

=Other wins (3)=

2000 World Travel Open (PGA of Belgium) (as an amateur)
2002 Belgian Match Play Championship
2003 Omnium of Belgium

Results in major championships

class="wikitable" style="font-size:95%;text-align:center;"

!Tournament

!2004

!2005!!2006!!2007!!2008!!2009

align=left|Masters Tournament

|style="background:#eeeeee;"|

align=left|U.S. Open

|style="background:#eeeeee;"|

align=left|The Open Championship

|CUT

|style="background:#eeeeee;"|

align=left|PGA Championship

|style="background:#eeeeee;"|

class="wikitable" style="font-size:95%;text-align:center;"

!Tournament

!2010

!2011

!2012

!2013

!2014

!2015

!2016

!2017

!2018

align=left|Masters Tournament

|style="background:#eeeeee;"|

|CUT

|style="background:#eeeeee;"|

align=left|U.S. Open

|style="background:#eeeeee;"|

|CUT

|T27

|style="background:yellow;"|T10

|CUT

|style="background:#eeeeee;"|

align=left|The Open Championship

|style="background:#eeeeee;"|

|style="background:yellow;"|T7

|CUT

|style="background:#eeeeee;"|

|T46

|style="background:#eeeeee;"|

|CUT

align=left|PGA Championship

|style="background:#eeeeee;"|

|CUT

|style="background:#eeeeee;"|

|CUT

|style="background:#eeeeee;"|

CUT = missed the half-way cut

"T" indicates a tie for a place

=Summary=

Totals	0	0	0	0	2	2	14	4
class=wikitable style=text-align:center !Tournament !! Wins !! 2nd !! 3rd !! Top-5 !! Top-10 !! Top-25 !! Events !! Cuts made
align=left\|Masters Tournament	0	0	0	0	0	0	1	0
align=left\|U.S. Open	0	0	0	0	1	1	4	2
align=left\|The Open Championship	0	0	0	0	1	1	5	2
align=left\|PGA Championship	0	0	0	0	0	0	4	0

Most consecutive cuts made – 2 (2012 U.S. Open – 2012 Open Championship)
Longest streak of top-10s – 1 (twice)

Results in World Golf Championships

class="wikitable" style="text-align:center;"

!Tournament!!2011!!2012!!2013

align="left"|Match Play

|style="background:#eeeeee;"|

|R64

|style="background:yellow;"|R16

align="left"|Championship

|style="background:#eeeeee;"|

|T35

|T18

align="left"|Invitational

|style="background:#eeeeee;"|

|T45

|T57

align="left"|Champions

|T20

|T54

|style="background:#eeeeee;"|

QF, R16, R32, R64 = Round in which player lost in match play

"T" = Tied

Team appearances

Amateur

European Boys' Team Championship (representing Belgium): 1997, 1999{{cite web |title=European Boys' Team Championship – European Golf Association |url=http://www.ega-golf.ch/page/european-boys-team-championship |access-date=22 January 2023}}
Junior Ryder Cup (representing Europe): 1997, 1999 (winners)
Jacques Léglise Trophy (representing the Continent of Europe): 1998, 1999, 2000
Eisenhower Trophy (representing Belgium): 1998, 2000
European Youths' Team Championship (representing Belgium): 1998, 2000{{cite web |title=EGA Events, Results, European Team Championships, European Youths' Team Championship |url=https://www.ega-golf.ch/page/european-youths-team-championship |accessdate=3 January 2023 |publisher=European Golf Association}}
Bonallack Trophy (representing Europe): 2000 (winners)