After the excitement of the US Open, its back to business as usual this week, but for European golf fans, the upcoming BMW International Open is one of the highlights of the Tour. Held at Eichenried, just outside Munich, this tournament usually attracts a high-class field, and this year is no exception, with a number of household names lining up to compete for the trophy.
And it should be a wide-open contest at a course that offers something for everyone. Of modest length, the layout is a parkland setting, and has been won by players who represent a range of styles, from big hitters to crafty scramblers.
Top of the pile, at least according to bookmaker BetCris, is the defending champions Matt Wallace. Who is rated as a +950 chance. Wallace will be a popular choice with those trying to predict the winner in Germany, given his strong performances in the PGA Championship and the US Open, where he finished third and twelfth respectively, suggesting that a first Major may not be too far away.
He will be joined by another pair of Europeans who were competing at the US Open in Sergio Garcia and Martin Kaymer, both available at +1350 with BetCris. Veteran Garcia has never won this tournament and hasn’t been in the best of form in recent months, although he has shown glimpses of his best this year, and a player of his class can never be completely written off.
As a likely winner in Munich this week, however, Kaymer would appear to have more going for him. The two-time Major champion has been without a tournament win for five years, which seems astonishing for a player of his talent. But the good news for Kaymer fans is that he seems to be turning the corner in 2019. He finished in the top ten at the British Masers, and third at Memorial, before playing well at Pebble Beach last week, where his iron play was outstanding.
He also should have won this tournament last year, having been in a good position on the final day, despite not playing at his best, but ended up finishing a shot behind Wallace in third, so will be keen to improve on that showing on his home soil this time round.
Another likely contender is Alex Noren, who has a history of being at his most effective during the summer months and has an impressive record on this side of the Atlantic. He’s won seven of his last forty starts on the European Tour and he will be much more at home than on the PGA Tour.
Other European contenders to keep an eye on this week include Joost Luiten, who has won in Germany before, and has a solid record in this tournament, and the upcoming talents Erik van Rooyen and Thomas Detry. Detry in particular will be keen to return to a course where he finished as runner-up in 2017 and it wouldn’t be a great surprise to see him claim his first title in Munich.
