After a genuine show of strength and character at The 134th Open Championship last week, a host of The European Tour’s biggest names will descend upon the Gut Kaden Golf und Land Club in Hamburg, Germany, for the Deutsche Bank Players’ Championship of Europe.
José Maria Olazábal of Spain, who took third place behind Tiger Woods of the USA and Scotland’s Colin Montgomerie at St Andrews last Sunday, will lead The Open’s form players into the €3.3 million event, with fifth placed Michael Campbell of New Zealand and Retief Goosen of South Africa – the 2005 and 2004 US Open Champions – and Germany’s favourite golfing son, Bernhard Langer, also heading to Gut Kaden for this, the 22nd Deutsche Bank Players’ Championship of Europe.
Defending champion Trevor Immelman of South Africa, who took the title at Golf Club St Leon-Rot Heidelberg after an enthralling final round tussle with Ireland’s Padraig Harrinton last year, shared 15th place at the Old Course with another golfing superstar set for Germany, 1995 Open Champion, John Daly of the USA.
Harrington is set to return to action at the venue where he won the Deutsche Bank Players’ Championship of Europe in 2003 after missing The Open due to the death of his father.
The Irishman was due to joined by his 2004 Ryder Cup team mate, David Howell of England, who was hoping making a return to top level action after withdrawing from the US Open earlier in the season due to a rib injury but unfortunately his injury has once again forced his withdrawal.
The players will find the Gut Kaden Golf und Land Club in the finest condition it has ever been this week. In the winter of 2002 the greens at Gut Kaden suffered a severe attack of fusarium and with a May date for the tournament, the course did not have time to recover. As a result the greens were well below the standard expected of a European Tour venue.
But since then, every effort has been made by the club and, according to Tournament Director David Probyn, the transformation has been “exceptional”, ensuring that Gut Kaden will be in prime condition this week.
Finally, European Tour Member Miguel Angel Martin of Spain will reach the landmark figure of 500 appearances on The European Tour International Schedule in Germany. The 43 year old, who has recorded three Tour victories in that time, began his European Tour career in 1981, and is currently 12th on the list of players with the most appearances on The European Tour.
