Dutch Open: Defending KLM Open champion David Lynn hopes a return to the scene of his maiden European Tour victory in Holland will bring out the best in him again.

Last year Lynn shot a superb six-under-par final round of 66 to overhaul Australian Richard Green's three-stroke advantage and see off a late challenge from Ryder Cup star Paul McGinley.

Lynn returns to the short but tight, tree-lined Hilversumche Golf Club looking to build on his joint-eighth finish at the Celtic Manor Wales Open last week, his first top-10 placing of the year.

"It meant a lot to get my first win under my belt and realise a dream. It was a great feeling coming down the last and the crowds were great," said Lynn of his victory last August over the 6,660-yard par-70 course.

"To actually win the tournament and not be given it was a plus, and defending the title will obviously be a nice experience.

"I'm sure I will get some nice feelings walking around the course again regardless of what happens.

"I played fairly well the first two days last week but didn't play well over the weekend, but there were some good signs for two days, which is encouraging."

Last year's event, in the height of summer, was notable for some lightning-quick greens, but Lynn has already noticed some changes this time around.

"The course is different this year. I played six holes last night and the rough is really tough this year," said the Stoke 31-year-old.

"It is also playing a lot longer. It won't dry out much to play much faster so it won't be like last year."

The Dutch tournament is one of the oldest events in continental Europe, dating back to 1912, and boasts Seve Ballesteros, Bernhard Langer, Jose-Maria Olazabal, Colin Montgomerie and Lee Westwood among its former winners.

However, this year's champion will not be in the same class as the tournament has suffered from its place in the schedule - the week before the US Open at Pinehurst in North Carolina.

As a result, the quality of the field has been dramatically reduced.

Liverpudlian Nick Dougherty and Sweden's Peter Hanson, already European Tour winners this year at the Caltex Singapore Masters and Open de Espana respectively, withdrew after qualifying for the second major of the year on Monday.

New Zealander Michael Campbell, world number 80, also came through qualifying at Walton Heath, which leaves Anders Hansen, 101st in the world, as the highest-ranked player in the tournament.

However, Spain's Jose Manuel Lara and Sweden's Martin Erlandsson, who tied for second in Wales last week, Frenchman Jean-Francois Lucquin and Italian Alessandro Tadini, third and joint fifth respectively at Celtic Manor, are present.

The four Irish challengers are Stephen Browne, Peter Lawrie, Philip Walton and Damien McGrane.