The European Tour kicks back into gear following some time off for the U.S. Open. Up this week is the BMW International Open in Germany.
The Championship Course at Golfclub Munchen Eichenried will play host for the 25th time in tournament history. The historic Munich track stretches to 7,284 yards and will play to a par 72.
Headlined by defending champion Matt Wallace, and top-ranked stars Sergio Garcia (No. 30), Matthew Fitzpatrick (34), Rafa Cabrera Bello (39), and Alex Noren (43), the BWM will also include Germany’s own Martin Kaymer as the home favorite.
Here are more details about this week’s 31st BMW International Open.
The Skinny
Tournament: BMW International Open
Dates:Â June 20-23, 2019
Where: Munich, Germany
Title Sponsor: BMW
Course: Golfclub München Eichenried
Distance: Par 72, 7284 yards
Format: 72-holes, stroke play, 36-hole cut
Purse: $2,235,000
Winning Share: $333,330
Defending Champion:Â Matt Wallace
TV and Online
Rd 1: Thu 5:30 am-7:30 am (GOLF)
Rd 2: Fri 5:30 am-7:30 am (GOLF)
Rd 3: Sat 8:00 am-12:30 pm (GOLF)
Rd 4: Sun 6:30 am-11:30 am (GOLF)
Follow Online: Web | Instagram | Twitter | Facebook | Wikipedia
History
The BMW International Open is Germany’s longest running professional golf tour event. First contested in 1989, Northern Ireland’s David Feherty edged American Fred Couples by five strokes to capture the inaugural trophy.
The tournament was annually held in Greater Munich, the home base of BMW, until 2012. Since then, though, the event has rotated each year between Munich (Golfclub München Eichenried – 2013, 2015, 2017) and Cologne (Golf Club Gut Lärchenhof – 2012, 2014, 2016, 2018).
Until the Porsche European Open arrived in 2016, the BMW International was the Tour’s lone event contested in Germany. The total prize money is now up to $2.24 million, which is about a mid-tier purse on the European Tour.
Martin Kaymer is the only native son to have won the title in the 29 previous editions. German legend Bernhard Langer is a five-time runner up.
Two-time winners Paul Azinger, Pablo Larrazabal, Henrik Stenson, and Thomas Bjorn are tied for the most victories. Other big names engraved on the trophy include Sandy Lyle, Frank Nobilo, Colin Montgomerie, Lee Westwood, Miguel Angel Jimenez, Danny Willett, Ernie Els, and John Daly.
Recent Winners
2018: Matt Wallace (-10)
2017: Andrés Romero (-17)
2016: Henrik Stenson (-17)
2015: Pablo Larrazábal (-17)
2014: Fabrizio Zanotti (-19)
2013: Ernie Els (-18)
2012: Danny Willett (-11)
Tournament Records
SCORING
261 (-27) – John Daly (2001)
WINS
2 – Henrik Stenson (2006, 2016)
2 – Pablo Larrazabal (2011, 2015)
2 – Thomas Bjorn (2000, 2002)
2 – Paul Azinger (1990, 1992)
Field Analysis & Odds
There’s no doubt the spotlight will be on Matt Wallace, who’s the defending champion as well as the field’s top-ranked player at No. 24.
The Englishman enters off another impressive performance in the states at another major, this time a T12 at Pebble Beach (U.S. Open) which followed a T3 at Bethpage Black (PGA). There’s a reason he’s the favorite this week at 10-1.
He will be joined by compatriot Matthew Fitzpatrick (No. 34), who tied Wallace for 12th place at the U.S. Open. Prior to his top-15 at Pebble Beach, though, Fitzpatrick had gone seven-straight starts without a top-20, including three finishes outside of the top-60, so it’s unknown if Pebble was a breakout or a blip for the Englishman. Despite this, Fitzpatrick is listed as one the top-5 betting picks at 14-1.
A third top-ranked name is Sergio Garcia (No. 30), who is listed behind Wallace at 12-1, but will enter Munich in poor form, owning two missed-cuts and a T54 in his last three starts. The 54th place finish at Pebble Beach, in fact, was his only show in the money at a major this season, as he missed the weekend at both the Masters and PGA.
Garcia will be joined by countryman Rafa Cabrera Bello (No. 39), who’s also played poorly since a T3 at Bay Hill. The Spaniard will enter off four-straight finishes outside the top-40 (65-41-71-53). His form is reflected in his odds at 25-1.
Alex Noren is the fifth and final top-50 ranked player in the field this week, but he won’t be ranked that high for much longer if his play continues on its current track. The 2018 Ryder Cup star, who nearly cracked the world top 10 last summer (No. 12) has been in a career tailspin since the calendar flipped.
The 36-year old Swede, who’s played the PGA Tour this season, has yet to post a single top 20 in a stroke play event. His only top-20 (T17) was at the WGC Match Play event in Austin.
As always, proceed with caution…
