The European Tour moves to Germany this week in the wake of that epic showdown at Pebble Beach. Several European tour staples got themselves into excellent positions during the event, though it ultimately turned into an all-American slugfest between Brooks Koepka and champion Gary Woodland.
This will be the 31st edition of the BMW International Open. The inaugural staging of the event was actually won by charismatic NBC personality David ‘Fairway’ Feherty. Golf club Munchen Eichenreid hosted every edition of this event between 1997 and 2011. Golf Club Gut Larchenhof took over duties in 2012, and the courses have alternated hosting duties since then.
European Tour 2019 | BMW International Open
Golfclub Munchen Eichenried, Munich, Germany
Thursday 20 June – Sunday 23 June 2019
Golfclub Munchen Eichenreid was designed by Kurt Russknecht and opened in 1989. It is a flat, tree-lined course with fairly slow green systems. Water is in play on ten holes and scoring is typically good around here. But recent years have seen scores rise with newly planted trees. This season will see significant renovations come into play. Most notably, the greens have been increased from around 800m to 1350m. This should add to the test with increased undulations on the greens. This is a tricky course that seems to reward familiarity: Pablo Zarrazabal and Thomas Bjorn have won here twice. Sergio Garcia also finished runner-up here on two separate occasions.
I was actually pleasantly surprised by the depth of field this week following the events at Pebble Beach. Defending champion Matt Wallace had a brilliant PGA Championship and is starting to become a perennial contender on leader-boards. Matthew Fitzpatrick looked to have found something at Pebble Beach while Martin Kaymer has slowly started to rediscover his best form. Sergio Garcia bombed towards the end of the US Open but returns to a course he enjoys. It is rather interesting to see Jhonattan Vegas enter this week’s event. Elsewhere, the likes of Erik Van Rooyen and Thomas Detry carry the hopes of the up-and-coming European Tour players.
Past Winners
2018: Matt Wallace (-10) – Golf Club Gut Larchenhof
2017: Andres Romero (-17) – Golfclub Munchen Eichenried
2016: Henrik Stenson (-17) – Larchenhof
2015: Pablo Larrazabal (-17) – Eichenreid
2014: Fabrizio Zanotti (-19)*playoff – Larchenhof
Outright Betting (To Win)
Matt Wallace (10/1)
Sergio Garcia (12/1)
Matthew Fitzpatrick (12/1)
Martin Kaymer (16/1)
Thomas Detry (22/1)
Value Bets
Pablo Larrazabal
To Win (35/1), To Place (15/2)
This is a unique course that has certainly rewarded familiarity over the years. Pablo Larrazabal is living, breathing testament to that. He won here in 2011 and 2015. He also managed to finish 14th in 2017. He enters this event on the back of some impressive form. He finished 4th at the Made in Denmark event, just a week after a top 10 at the British Masters. He had to pull out of the Belgian knockout with a wrist injury but should be primed for this return to his most lucrative venue.
Robert McIntyre
To Win (45/1), To Place (19/2)
The 22-year-old Scot Robert McIntyre is a player who looks absolutely primed for a victory at some point. He started the season relatively slowly, with a top 20 at the Kenya Open a standout. But few could have envisaged the breakthrough he would make as the year progressed. Runner-up finishes at both the British Masters and Made in Denmark highlighted the tremendous potential at his disposal. An early exit at the rather idiosyncratic Belgian Knockout has helped knock up his price. I’m of the belief that McIntyre will once again shine as the tour shifts to the more traditional stroke-play round.
The Man to Beat
Martin Kaymer
To Win (16/1), To Place (7/2)
Hometown hero Martin Kaymer looks a fabulous bet to win at 16/1 this week. He has enjoyed a career resurgence of late, claiming top 10’s at both the British Masters and Memorial Tournament. He also flirted with contention prior to finishing in a tie for 35th last week. He led the field in shots gained approach and was 8th in greens in regulation. Furthermore, Martin Kaymer won on this course in 2008. He also finished runner-up at Golf Club Gut Larchenhof last season. So the two-time Major Champion has a winning combination of course and current form.
