There is plenty at stake as the European Swing comes to a close at the BMW International Open.
After five counting events in as many countries, resulting in five different first-time winners emerging, there are seven players - all of whom are in the field this week in Germany - who can still win the European Swing.
One of five Global Swings which form Phase One of the DP World Tour’s global schedule in 2025, there is again the prize of a place in every event of Phase Two – the Back 9 – and a $US200,000 bonus.
Here, we take a look at the players still able to win the Swing and their possible routes to glory.
The Favourites
Martin Couvra is the man to catch after a memorable stretch in his rookie DP World Tour season over recent weeks. The Frenchman may have already caught the eye before the start of the European Swing with three top tens in his first five starts of he campaign, but it was at the Turkish Airlines Open where he underlined his ability as he won his first title as a professional at Regnum Carya. While he missed the cut at the Soudal Open, he then finished in the top ten at the Austrian Alpine Open presented by SalzburgerLand before coming second to countryman Adrien Saddier at the Italian Open last week. With his runner-up finish in Tuscany, he moved ahead of Kristoffer Reitan at the summit of the Swing Rankings on 1,052.40 points. Another runner-up finish would leave Norway’s Reitan as the only other player who could overhaul him.
Reitan had led the Swing Rankings since his remarkable maiden DP World Tour title at the Soudal Open, where he carded a course-record 62 to overturn a nine-shot deficit and win. A picture of consistency since the start of the Swing, with no missed cuts in five starts, he trails Couvra by just 69.14 points. That means anything in the top ten could give him a chance to finish top and a second victory of the Swing would also guarantee it, while second would also be good enough provided Couvra or Nicolai von Dellingshausen do not win.
Von Dellingshausen came into the Australian Alpine Open presented by SalzburgerLand struggling for consistency in his form, with seven missed cuts in his previous nine starts, but the German has since clicked into gear. Since becoming a first-time winner on the DP World Tour, he has backed it up with consecutive top ten finishes at the KLM Open and Italian Open. Another win this week on home soil would see him take top spot. However, a solo third-place finish or worse wouldn’t be enough.
European Swing Rankings
| Player | Tournaments Played | Swing Points |
|---|---|---|
| Martin Couvra | 4 | 1,052.40 |
| Kristoffer Reitan | 5 | 983.26 |
| Nicolai von Dellingshausen | 5 | 817.70 |
| Adrien Saddier | 4 | 596.63 |
| Connor Syme | 4 | 595.32 |
| Ewen Ferguson | 4 | 486.10 |
| Haotong Li | 4 | 472.78 |
For the full European Swing Rankings, click here.
For a full breakdown of points available at DP World Tour events, click here.
The outsiders
Separated by just 1.31 points, Adrien Saddier and Connor Syme need a win to have any chance of topping the Swing but that may still not be enough as a solo fifth for Couvra, a solo second for Reitan or a win for Von Dellingshausen would see them fall short.
Ewen Ferguson is another who needs a win, but he could be denied by a top 48 for Couvra, a solo eighth for Reitan or a solo second for Von Dellingshausen, while Haotong Li needs to win with Couvra missing the cut, Reitan finishing below a solo ninth and Von Dellingshausen not finishing solo second or better.
*tied positions could vary these scenarios.
What else is at play?
At the end of this week, the first five DP World Tour members and any tying for fifth place, not otherwise exempt, in the top 20 of the Race to Dubai Rankings will get a spot in The 153rd Open at Royal Portrush.
Those spots are currently occupied by John Parry, Li, Reitan, Daniel Hillier and Shaun Norris, who sit between fifth and 11th on the Race to Dubai.
Keita Nakajima, who begins the final week of the European Swing in 14th on the Race to Dubai, is next in line, with Eugenio Chacarra, Rasmus Neergaard-Petersen, Nicolai von Dellingshausen, Jacques Kruyswijk and Jayden Schaper all in the top 20 and teeing it up this week in Germany.
The highest-ranked player on the Swing not already exempt will also earn a place at next week’s Genesis Scottish Open - the second Rolex Series event of the season.
