Europe's US Open best tackle BMW International
IN: News | European PGA | BMW International Open (2007) | Preview | by Bruce Young | 20 Jun 2007
The European Tour is in Munich in Germany this week for the BMW International Open and several who were in the thick of contention at Oakmont last Sunday will back up in what is one of the more significant events on the European Tour schedule.
The tournament has been played at the Golfclub Munchen Eichenried since 1997, the course having been opened ten years earlier. Designed by Kurt Rossknecht, the course measures just a touch under 7000 yards and the winning score over the years, highlights a golf course that produces some very low scoring.
The field in 2007 includes many of Europe’s best and a South African looking to get back in the winning circle after just one victory in the past eighteen months. Ernie Els has hardly been struggling to make ends meet with his game in that time but for a player of his class he needs to be winning more and this week might just present that opportunity. Els has played this event only twice in the last eight years finishing 17th in 2003 and 5th in 2000. Whatever happens, Els adds further to what is a very good field.
Paul Casey appeared to have a winning chance last week at Oakmont before a poor last round cost him dearly. He had played very well earlier in the week however and has gone close to winning at this course previously when third on two occasions.
Henrik Stenson is the defending champion but seems to have struggled in recent weeks after such a great start to the season. He won last year in a playoff over Retief Goosen and Padraig Harrington but neither will be in the field this year.
Niclas Fasth is one of those who performed with so much distinction last week at the US Open. It (his 4th placed finish) might well be considered the best ever tournament for the Swede, even including his runner up placing to Duval in 2001 at Royal Birkdale. Fasth finished 4th last year at this event and he will be full of confidence after his great final round of 70 on Sunday.
Ian Poulter has had a mixed bag of late but there have been some good finishes in events much bigger than this and it might be that this is a chance to win his most significant title in his professional career.
Two time winner Thomas Bjorn appears to be out of sorts with his game while Bernhard Langer might yet be a chance despite closing in on the age of 50. He has played well in the US this year and although there will no doubt be expectations on him, given his national hero status in his home country, he could do well.
The young guns of Alejandro Canizares and Martin Kaymer should give their supporters some hope and Peter Hanson seems to me to be improving to the point where a win in an even of this nature is not beyond him.
The Australian challenge is headed by Peter O’Malley, while Brett Rumford, last week’s runner up, Peter Fowler, Wade Ormsby, Matthew Millar, Andrew Tampion and Terry Price are others.
