Major Champions John Daly, Ernie Els and Bernhard Langer have confirmed their participation in the BMW International Open at Golfclub München Nord-Eichenried, Germany, from August 28-31, 2003.
The trio join an already impressive field for the €1.8 million event, won last year by Ryder Cup golfer Thomas Björn, the Dane posting four excellent rounds in the 60s for a 24 under par total of 264 and a four shot victory over John Bickerton and Langer.
Daly, the 1995 Open Golf Champion, will relish a return to Germany and to the course where he won in 2001, a scintillating display of power on the fairways and deftness around the greens giving the 37 year a stunning winning total of 27 under par 261.
Els, the reigning Open Golf Champion following his victory at Muirfield last July, has played twice before in the BMW International Open, finishing tied 26th in 1997 and tied fifth in 2000, and will wish to add the prestigious title to his already glowing golfing CV.
Another player keen to pick up the trophy will be home favourite Bernhard Langer, for it is the one German title the two time Masters Tournament Champion does not yet have to his name yet in his illustrious career.
The strength of the field is illustrated by the fact that the current top five players on the Volvo Order of Merit, Els, Padraig Harrington, Paul Casey, Trevor Immelman and Ignacio Garrido, will play while the German challenge alongside Langer will be bolstered by players such as Alex Cejka, Tobias Dier, Marcel Siem and Sven Strüver.
Admission for the first two days of the tournament, Thursday August 28 and Friday August 29, is free while a daily ticket for Saturday August 30 and Sunday August 31 costs €25 (€22 advance sale). You can also buy a weekend ticket for €40 and all queries should be addressed to the Ticket Hotline on 089 99 92 99 99.
