Dan Brown is determined to keep his mind inside the ropes as he defends his title at the BMW International Open 12 months on from an emotional victory at Golfclub München Eichenried.
The Englishman was grieving the recent death of a friend when he won his second DP World Tour title in Germany and admitted the final round felt like an “out-of-body experience” at times.
Over the course of the rest of the 2025 season, he went on to secure dual membership with the PGA TOUR and is this week making just his second regular DP World Tour start of 2026.
Add in the fact that this is his first defence of a title, with him being the last winner of the ISPS HANDA World Invitational presented by AVIV Clinics, and it is fair to say Brown is facing a heady brew of emotions and challenges in Bavaria.
But the affable 31-year-old is trying to take it all in his stride as he returns to familiar territory.
“With what happened last year, losing a friend, he passed away a year ago on Sunday. So I’ve looked back at videos and had a few teary eyes every now and again,” he said.
“But I suppose as a golfer, you’re so busy, it’s non-stop, you’re two, three, four weeks on and then you only get one or two weeks off in between so it’s very much business most of the time.
“You’re just trying to do your job, you’re trying to get here and prepare and not forget about last year but put that to the back of your mind and do the best you can this week.”
He added: “It’s nice but it’s obviously strange because I haven’t played a DP World Tour event since Mauritius so it’s nice to be back on the DP World Tour and nice to be back as a defending champion which I haven’t done before.
• BMW International Open: Five things to know
• Who can win the European Swing?
• A history of holes-in-one at the BMW International Open
“There’s not many times in your career where you can come back and defend. It’s not something you get to do very often.”
Since finishing 21st in Mauritius, Brown’s best result is tie for 19th in his next start at the Sony Open in Hawaii.
He arrives in Munich having missed six of his last eight cuts but he does not feel his game is too far away and is happy to be back on the DP World Tour.
“I’ve been in America and I don’t feel like I’ve played badly but results haven’t been what I’ve wanted them to be,” he said.
“It was nice coming down yesterday afternoon and seeing a few familiar faces. This Tour is a little bit more friendly. The Americans sort of keep themselves to themselves and it’s nice. I like the social aspect, I’m quite a sociable person.”
During last year’s victory he made just three bogeys all week, hitting over 75 per cent of fairways along the way, and Brown believes that will be key again this week.
“I think I drove it really well last year and I was missing it in the right areas all the time,” he said. “Then obviously I putted nicely.
“Any week you win, your game is going to be pretty good all round so I would say there wasn’t really a weakness last year but I drove it really well.”
