Ahead of the 36th edition of the Porsche European Open we bring you five key storylines to look out for in Germany this week.
A landmark year
While there have been 36 stagings of the European Open, this year will mark the 40th anniversary of the prestigious event. First played in 1978, Bobby Wadkins first took home the title at Walton Heath’s Old Course.
Past champions also include Greg Norman, Bernhard Langer, Sandy Lyle, Sir Nick Faldo, Lee Westwood, Retief Goosen, Darren Clarke and Colin Montgomerie – who is the most recent European Open winner from that distinguished list, having triumphed in 2007 at The K Club for the last of his 31 European Tour victories.
The tournament was first played in Germany in 2015 at Golf Resort Bad Reisbach, and after two years there the event moved to Green Eagle Golf Courses in 2017 – the Hamburg venue hosts again this week.
Major appeal
Headlining a fine field is reigning Masters Champion Patrick Reed. The American made his first appearance in Germany in the 2017 edition of the event and finished a respectable tied 19th after rounds of 68-71-70-73. The 27 year old will look to better that result as he goes in search of a third European Tour title but will have a fight of his hands with the likes of fellow Masters winner, Charl Schwartzel, also teeing it up in northern Germany.
Stiff competition
Looking to get the better of Major Champions Reed and Schwartzel are a host of other star names. Paul Casey, a 13-time European Tour winner, will make his first appearance at the Hamburg course and will be up against rising American star Bryson DeChambeau and his countryman Pat Perez, who will tee it up at Green Eagle for a second successive year. Alex Levy, who claimed the title in 2016 and lost out to Jordan Smith in a play-off last year, will be looking to carry on his remarkable recent run in the German event.
Repeat for Smith?
“Your first win on the European Tour is always special and I know there will be a lot of world class players in the field trying to win in 2018,” said reigning champion Smith ahead of this week.
If the Englishman can reign triumphant again he will become the third player to successfully defend the title following Westwood (1999, 2000) and Per-Ulrik Johansson (1996, 1997).
Double Hamburg
The 7,582-yard, par 72 North Course at Green Eagle Golf Courses in Hamburg will host the tournament for the second time, as the Porsche European Open takes place in Germany for the fourth consecutive year.
Green Eagle previously played host to the ECCO Tour Championship on the European Challenge Tour in 2010.
The North Course is one of three on the 186-hectare venue, which includes huge lakes, spectacular bunkers and impressive natural grandstands.
