The return of the Porsche European Open has thrown up some fascinating groupings, with home legend Bernhard Langer’s three-ball standing out as one to watch.
Langer, who won this event in 1985 and 1995, knows Golf Resort Bad Griesbach better than anyone, having designed the 7,188 yard layout himself – so he might be able to advise his playing partners, Bernd Wiesberger and American star Hunter Mahan, over the first two days.
Wiesberger is the highest-ranked player in the field this week, and will be eager to contend and add to his five top five finishes this season, in an event which is being held only 20 kilometres from the Austrian border.
Meanwhile, six-time US PGA Tour winner Mahan will be looking to impress in what is a rare, but welcome foray into continental Europe, when he gets underway alongside Langer and Wiesberger at 12:50 from the first tee.
Rikard Karlberg’s reward for his fine performance and maiden win at the 72° OPEN D'ITALIA presented by DAMIANI is the chance to play with Major Champion and Ryder Cup star Graeme McDowell.
Scotland’s Marc Warren will be out with the pair at 08:00 from the tenth tee, in a group which is sure to attract a lot of attention from the galleries.
Wherever Major Champion Charl Schwartzel plays, his class and fluent swing also excites the fans, and this week will be no different as the South African gets his challenge started from the first hole at 13:00 with Søren Kjeldsen and David Horsey.
If form is what you are looking for, then look no further than the 08:10 tee time from the tenth, which features Lee Slattery, Miguel Ángel Jiménez and BMW PGA Championship winner Byeong Hun-An.
Jiménez was just three shots shy of making the play-off in Italy last week, while Slattery will be teeing it up on the back of a victory and a tied second place finish in his two most recent outings.
Welshman Jamie Donaldson will be partnering former European Number One Robert Karlsson and Pablo Larrazábal over the first two days in Bavaria, in a group which has won a combined 18 European Tour titles.
Mahan is not the only talented American in the field, with the colourful Morgan Hoffmann also eager to make his mark this side of the pond.
The 26 year old will tee it up alongside promising young Englishman Max Orrin, and Simon Thornton at 07:30 from the tenth tee.
Other big names well worth following this week are the likes of Tommy Fleetwood, Stephen Gallacher, James Morrison and Kiradech Aphibarnrat.
To see who that quartet have been paired with and for the full draw click here: DRAW HERE.
