Stenson has the credentials at BMW
BY Bruce Young | European PGA Tour | 2009 BMW International Open | Preview | 25 Jun 2009
The European Tour returns to nearly full strength this week when the BMW International is played at the Golfclub München Eichenried in Munich in Germany.
Martin Kaymer last year became the first German to win the event in its 20 year history when he defeated Anders Hansen with a birdie at the first extra hole of a playoff.
Henrik Stenson returns to the scene of his win in this event in 2006 and a solid week at last week’s US Open where he finished 9th gives him favouritism ahead of the likes of Rory McIlroy, the defending champion Kaymer, Luke Donald and Retief Goosen.
Of those who played last week at Bethpage, Stenson did the best although McIlroy (10th), Goosen (16th) and Peter Hanson (18th) also had good weeks and could follow up with a good tournament.
Luke Donald missed the cut at the US Open but he endured the worst side of the draw so while it was disappointing it was not as bad as it might seem on the surface. He was playing well enough earlier this season for him to be a factor this week.
Anders Hansen while seldom contending has done well enough in 2009 for him to be a chance to gain revenge for the playoff loss last year. He also finished 4th in this event in 2007.
The Australasian contingent will again be headed by Richard Green with Marcus Fraser, Brett Rumford, Wade Ormsby, Scott Strange, Peter O’Malley, Mark Brown, Matthew Millar, Peter Fowler and Michael Curtain all gaining starts.
Fowler has a start courtesy of an invitation from event sponsors. Fowler, who turned 50 two weeks ago and is eligible to play European Senior events such as this week’s De Vere PGA Championship, is a previous winner of this event having beaten Ian Woosnam by three shots in 1993.
