The European Swing comes to a climax this week as the DP World Tour arrives in Germany. Here are your five things to know about the BMW International Open.
Lots at stake in Swing finale
After five counting events in as many countries, the European Swing - the fourth and penultimate of the five Global Swings - draws to a close in Germany. At the end of the event, the player who is top of the Swing standings will earn exemption into each of the Back 9 events from August onwards and a $US200,000 bonus. With victories in the Netherlands and then last week in Italy over back-to-back starts, Eugenio Chacarra has control at the top of the standings. With 3,500 Race to Dubai Ranking points on offer, 585 of those for the winner this week, Japan's Kota Kaneko is the only player who can deny the Spaniard the Swing title. But the task is a tough one for Kaneko, who needs to win and hope Chacarra misses the cut.
The leading DP World Tour member (not otherwise exempt) will also qualify for the Genesis Scottish Open, the second of five Rolex Series events this season. As things stand, Oliver Lindell - who has a runner-up finish and two other top tens from his five starts in the Swing - is projected to be the beneficiary.
As well as that, the top five, not otherwise exempt, from the Race to Dubai Rankings Delivered by DP World (within the top 20) come close of play get a spot into The 154th Open at Royal Birkdale in mid-July. Jayden Schaper, Andy Sullivan, Dan Bradbury, Lindell and Mikael Lindberg are in position to capitalise on this exemption.
Brown defends
Dan Brown will aim to do something never achieved before in the history of the BMW International Open: successfully defend the title. Last year, the Englishman won his second DP World Tour crown, carding a bogey-free final round of 66 as he fought off countryman Jordan Smith to win by two shots.
Becoming the eighth English winner of the tournament, he dedicated the victory to his late friend. "I lost a friend at home last weekend," said Brown. "I don't know what to say really, but that was for him. The last two days I've been thinking about him to try and take my mind off it, obviously try not to get too emotional in the process. I suppose he was there with me and it made it a lot easier."
The victory coupled with runner-up finishes in Bahrain and Spain last year saw him earn dual membership with the PGA TOUR, where his best result so far in his rookie season is a tie for 19th on his season debut in Hawaii. Off the course, he has made a big impression stateside with his relaxed approach to life on tour.
Inside the field
Headlined by Race to Dubai leader Patrick Reed, a strong global array of talent has assembled as players representing 31 nationalities are set to feature. The American is joined by this season's fellow two-time DP World Tour winners Schaper, Casey Jarvis and Chacarra in teeing it up. Reed is one of four Major champions on show, joined by fellow Green Jacket winners Danny Willett and Sergio Garcia along with Martin Kaymer.
From the returning dual DP World Tour and PGA TOUR member Rasmus Neergaard-Petersen, to emerging talent Yurav Premlall, there are 11 winners from this season in action. Freddy Schott is another with the home favourite one of 12 Germans in the field.
Marco Penge won three times last season and the Englishman makes a welcome return to competitive action, having been ruled out since the US PGA Championship due to a recurring issue with his ear, neck and nervous system since suffering a viral infection in November.
The winners of the three Global Swings so far this season, Schaper, Reed and Lindberg, are set to feature in a three-ball over the opening two rounds in a feature brought in ahead of last year's edition.
Brad Dalke, who finished runner-up at the 2016 U.S. Amateur to earn invites into the Masters and U.S. Open in 2017 and recently announced his departure from Good Good Golf, is among those to receive an invite.
Event history
Founded in 1989, the BMW International Open has since been held annually with the exception of 2020 when the tournament was cancelled due to the Covid-19 pandemic.
From 1989 to 1993 and from 1997 to 2011 it was played at the Golfclub München Eichenried while from 1994 to 1996 it was held at St. Eurach Land-und-Golfclub. In 2012, 2014, 2016 and 2018, the event was played at Golf Club Gut Lärchenhof near Cologne, alternating with Golfclub München Eichenried, which has become the sole host annually since 2019.
Across the previous 36 editions, four players - Paul Azinger, Thomas Bjørn, Pablo Larrazábal and Henrik Stenson - are multiple winners, each winning the event twice.
There has only ever been one homegrown winner, coming in 2008 as Kaymer claimed the title on the event's 20th anniversary. 23 years and 177 days old at the time, he remains the youngest winner of the tournament.
Ernie Els is the oldest winner, having lifted the trophy when he was 43 years and 248 days in 2013.
The lowest 72-hole winning score is held by John Daly, who finished 27 under at Golfclub München Eichenried in 2001.
BMW has been the organiser of the BMW International Open since 1989. No other tournament on the DP World Tour has been held for so long under the same name and with the same partner.
Eagles for Education
For the second year running, the BMW Group is partnering with the Philipp Lahm Foundation for Sport and Education as part of its “Eagles for Education” initiative.
The shared goal is to provide children and young people with skills in the areas of physical activity, nutrition, and personal development. At the heart of the programme is the principle of equal opportunities, with a focus on promoting values that are fundamental to society as a whole: fairness, diversity, inclusion, and participation.
For every eagle made during the tournament rounds of the BMW International Open, the BMW Group will donate €1,000 to the foundation.
At last year's event, 73 eagles were made over the four competition days - including by tournament winner Brown.
The initiative extends through to BMW title tournaments around the world, including the BMW PGA Championship at Wentworth Club.
