While the world’s top golfers tee off at the US Open Championship at Bethpage State Park in New York, final preparations are underway at Golfclub Munich Eichenried for the next highlight on the competitive calendar - the BMW International Open.
Stars including defending champion Martin Kaymer of Germany, Rory McIlroy of Northern Ireland and Sweden's Henrik Stenson are set to play at the 21st BMW International Open from June 25-28 with a prize fund of €2 million.
Shortly before the deadline, crowd-pleaser John Daly has now confirmed that he will be playing in the tournament.The charismatic American returns to the European Tour after just one appearance in the USA. The big-hitter will be looking to win back the BMW International Open title he last captured in 2001 and go one step higher than he achieved in Turin last month when he tied for second place in the BMW Italian Open.
In the last few days, England's Ross Fisher and Spaniard Álvaro Quiros have also confirmed their participation. Quiros has already won a top tournament on the European Tour this year, having secured victory at the Qatar Masters, and will give Daly a run for his money when it comes to the most spectacular drives at the tournament – nobody in Europe hits the ball further than the Spaniard at the moment. Like Quiros, Fisher is also among the top 30 in the World Ranking. This year, 15 of the top 20 players in The Race to Dubai will tee off at the BMW International Open.
“We are delighted to be able to present the public in Munich with another excellent mixture of world-class players and crowd favourites at the 21st BMW International Open, and are looking forward to what promises to be a very exciting tournament,” said BMW Tournament Director Marco Kaussler.
Further modifications have been made to the course ahead of this year’s tournament. For example, the 15th hole (par four) in particular has been redesigned. “The fairway has been lengthened by 62 metres to 424 metres,” explains Korbinian Kofler, Managing Director of GC Munich Eichenried: “This makes the hole more challenging and gives a completely new perspective from the championship tee.” The 11th green (par five) is also more attractive, thanks to a new bank reinforcement.
However, the course still has plenty of opportunities for birdies, and even some eagles – a welcome change for players travelling to Munich from the extremely difficult US Open course.
Off the course, pros and fans will note the renovated clubhouse at GC Munich Eichenried. “After 20 years it has been given a modern facelift,” says Kofler. “It now offers various lounges and a separate upstairs area for events, which can now incorporate the upper terrace more effectively.”
Many stars will fly in direct from New York at the start of the week – including Stenson. The 33-year-old Swede celebrated the biggest success of his year in May, when he won The Players’ Championship. This victory has seen him rise to sixth place in the World Ranking. He travels to Eichenried as top favourite, not least because he has already won the BMW International Open back in 2006.
However, Stenson will face some tough opposition. He will be joined on the plane by more former champions in the form of South Africa’s Retief Goosen, Spaniard Miguel Ángel Jiménez (2004) and Scotland’s Colin Montgomerie (1999), as well as 20 year old McIlroy. The young Northern Irishman currently lies 18th in the world and third in The Race to Dubai.
Luke Donald (England) returns to the BMW International Open after a three-year break. Among those with title aspirations are the two Swedes and former BMW International Open winners Robert Karlsson (1997) and Niclas Fasth (2007).
It goes without saying that Germany’s great hope will be joining the party. Kaymer (24) celebrated an unforgettable triumph last year, when he became the first German ever to win the BMW International Open. He is now looking to make history again: the current number 23 in the World Ranking is aiming to become the first player in the 20 year history of the tournament to defend his title.
After finishing runner-up on five occasions, Bernhard Langer (51) has not yet given up hope of finally winning the BMW International Open. Langer currently heads the rankings on the US Champions Tour. Munich’s very own Alex Cejka (38) has also enjoyed a successful season so far, most recently hitting the headlines with a ninth place at The Players’ Championship.
The three generations of German golfers – Langer, Cejka and Kaymer – will all be present at the Pro-Am Draw party at BMW Lenbachplatz on the Tuesday before the tournament. The draw will decide which amateurs will play with which pros at the traditional Pro-Am tournament on the Wednesday.
Those set to tee off include BMW Sauber F1 Team driver Nick Heidfeld and the former number one in the German national football team Oliver Kahn, who celebrated his 40th birthday yesterday.
It all gets serious as early as this Saturday for those playing in the Pro-Am Challenge. BMW is offering hobby golfers the opportunity to qualify for the Pro-Am for the first time. Teams of three will play on the Championship Course in Eichenried. The three members of the winning team will be rewarded with a starting place in the Pro-Am. Those going home empty handed can console themselves with the knowledge that they played the 2009 tournament course before any of the stars.
