The European swing will reach its climax this week when the DP World Tour arrives in Germany. Here are five things to know about the BMW International Open.
A lot is at stake in the Swing final
After five counting events in as many countries, the European Swing – the fourth and penultimate of the five global swings – comes to a close in Germany. At the end of the event, the top-ranked player in the Swing standings will receive an exemption from each of the Back 9 tournaments starting in August and a $200,000 bonus. With victories in the Netherlands and then last week in Italy in two consecutive starts, Eugenio Chacarra maintains his lead at the top of the standings. With 3,500 Race to Dubai ranking points, 585 of which will go to this week’s winner, Japan’s Kota Kaneko is the only player who can deny the Spaniard the Swing title. But Kaneko’s task is not easy: he needs to win to have a chance.
The leading DP World Tour competitor (not otherwise exempt) will also qualify for the Genesis Scottish Open, the second of five Rolex Series events this season. As things stand, Oliver Lindell, with a second-place finish and two other top tens from his five Swing starts, is projected to be the beneficiary.
In addition, the top five not otherwise excluded from DP World’s Race to Dubai rankings (in the top 20) are close to securing a place at the 154th Open at Royal Birkdale in mid-July. Jaden Schaper, Andy Sullivan, Dan Bradbury, Lindell and Mikael Lindberg could benefit from this exception.
Brown defends
Dan Brown will be looking to do something that has never been achieved before in the history of the BMW International Open: successfully defend his title. The Englishman won his second DP World Tour crown last year with a bogey-free final round 66 as he fought off compatriot Jordan Smith to win by two shots.
Becoming the eighth English winner of the tournament, he dedicated the victory to his late friend. “I lost a friend at home last weekend,” Brown said. “I don’t really know what to say, but it was for him. I’ve been thinking about him for the last two days to try and take my mind off of it, obviously try not to get too emotional in the process. I guess having him there with me made everything a lot easier.”
The win, coupled with second-place finishes in Bahrain and Spain last year, earned him dual membership on the PGA TOUR, where his best finish in his rookie season was 19th in his season debut in Hawaii. Off the track, he made a big impression in the US with his laid-back approach to life on tour.
Inside the field
Led by Race to Dubai leader Patrick Reed, a strong global talent line-up has been assembled, with players representing 31 nationalities taking part. The American is joined by this season’s two-time DP World Tour winners Schaper, Casey Jarvis and Chacarra. Reed is one of four major champions featured on the show, joining fellow Green Jacket winners Danny Willett and Sergio Garcia, as well as Martin Kaymer.
From returning dual DP World Tour and PGA TOUR member Rasmus Neergaard-Petersen to emerging talent Yurav Premlal, there are 11 winners this season. Freddy Schott is another home favorite out of the 12 Germans in the field.
Marco Penge won three times last season and the Englishman makes a welcome return to competitive play after being sidelined since the US PGA Championship with recurring ear, neck and nervous system problems after suffering a viral infection in November.
Brad Dalke, who finished second at the 2016 U.S. Amateur and earned invitations to the Masters and U.S. Open in 2017 and recently announced his retirement from Good Good Golfis among those who will receive an invitation.
History of events
Founded in 1989, the BMW International Open has been held annually since then, with the exception of 2020 when the tournament was canceled due to the Covid-19 pandemic.
From 1989 to 1993 and from 1997 to 2011 it was held at the München Eichenried Golf Club, and from 1994 to 1996 at the St. Eurach Land-und-Golfclub. In 2012, 2014, 2016 and 2018 the event was held at the Gut Lärchenhof Golf Club near Cologne, alternating with the München Eichenried Golf Club, which has been the sole host each year since 2019.
In the previous 36 tournaments, four players – Paul Azinger, Thomas Bjorn, Pablo Larrazabal and Henrik Stenson – were repeat winners, each winning the tournament twice.
There has only been one domestic winner in history: in 2008, Kaymer took the title on the event’s 20th anniversary. At 23 years and 177 days old at the time, he remains the youngest winner of the tournament.
Ernie Els is the oldest winner, having lifted the trophy in 2013 when he was 43 years and 248 days old.
The lowest 72-hole winning score is John Daly, who finished 27 under at the Golfclub München Eichenried in 2001.
BMW has been the organizer of the BMW International Open since 1989. No other DP World Tour tournament has been held for so long under the same name and with the same partner.
Eagles for Education
For the second year in a row, the BMW Group is collaborating with the Philipp Lahm Foundation for Sports and Education as part of the Eagles for Education initiative.
The overall aim is to provide children and young people with skills in physical activity, nutrition and personal development. The program is based on the principle of equal opportunity, with an emphasis on promoting values that are fundamental to society as a whole: equity, diversity, inclusion and participation.
For every eagle achieved during the BMW International Open, the BMW Group will donate 1,000 euros to the fund.
Last year’s event produced 73 eagles over four days of competition, including tournament winner Brown.
The initiative extends to BMW title tournaments around the world, including the BMW PGA Championship at Wentworth.