Home hero Martin Kaymer posted a 1-under 71 to grab a share of the lead after three rounds of play at Golf Club Gut Laerchenhof, as the BMW International Open appears set for a dramatic Sunday finish with 20 players within three of the lead, including six tied on top.
Cheered on by the home crowds, the two-time major winner birdied two of his final three holes to sign for a 71 and join compatriot Maximilian Kieffer (71), Dane Lucas Bjerregaard (67), overnight leader Scott Hend (73) of Australia and Englishmen Chris Paisley (68) and Aaron Rai (71) at 5-under par 211.
“It’s always nice to be in contention, especially for me because it’s been a while but the last few weeks I’ve played very well,” said Kaymer, who has gone winless since winning the PLAYERS Championship and U.S. Open in the early summer of 2014.
“In Italy I had a good chance but I didn’t really perform on the moving day. Today I didn’t need to perform as good as I thought. On top of that, winning in your own country speaks for itself.”
Recent winner of the Shot Clock Masters, Mikko Korhonen, along with Chilean Nico Geyger, were one back at 4-under 212, one ahead of eight more players at 3 under, headlined by three tournament favorites in Belgian Thomas Pieters (71), and Englishmen Matt Wallace (71) and Andy Sullivan (70).
Native sons Kaymer and Kieffer are the penultimate pair and will draw huge crowds on Sunday as the former seeks his 12th European Tour victory while the latter goes for his maiden title.
THE TOP 10
1. Lucas Bjerregaard -5
1. Chris Paisley -5
1. Martin Kaymer -5
1. Aaron Rai -5
1. Maximilian Kieffer -5
1. Scott Hend -5
7. Mikko Korhonen -4
7. Nicolas Geyger -4
9. Andres Romero -3
9. Jose-Filipe Lima -3
9. Andy Sullivan -3
9. Scott Jamieson -3
9. Wade Ormsby -3
9. Thomas Pieters -3
9. Matt Wallace -3
9. Soren Kjeldsen -3
PHOTOS: PLAYERS REMEMBER A LEGEND
Tour players remembered Australian golf legend Peter Thompson by wearing black ribbons on their hats. Thompson was best remembered for winning five British Open titles, including three straight in 1954, 1955, and 1956. He won two more in 1958 and 1965. Thompson died on June 20th in Melbourne after a four-year battle with Parkinson’s disease. He was 88.
Hover/swipe right to activate three-photo slideshow.
QUOTABLE
“It’s always nice to be in contention, especially for me because it’s been a while.”
– Martin Kaymer
