Ahead of the BMW International Open’s 25thedition, a team of top European Tour talent headed down to Munich’s English Gardens on Tuesday for a unique nearest the pin competition in the heart of the Bavarian capital.
Bathed in glorious sunshine, and boasting temperatures of some 34 degrees Centigrade, the Gardens were the ideal setting as Ernie Els, Sergio Garcia, Miguel Angel Jiménez, Dustin Johnson, Max Kieffer, Matteo Manassero and Marcel Siem all battled it out in front of huge crowds ahead of this week’s event at Golfclub München Eichenried.
The three hole exhibition took in some iconic sites throughout the park, including the hilltop Monopteros that made for a stunning first tee shot, before the players were transported by rickshaw to the Chinese Tower for a little local cuisine and Bavaria’s famous beer.
Spectators lined the second in the Werneckwiese area of the park, before a short stroll saw the players facing a tricky tee shot to an island green in front of the Seehaus Beer Garden on the banks of the Kleinhesseloher See.
At the end of it all Max Kieffer emerged triumphant, the young German winning a BMW bike.
The BMW Golfsport Ambassador said: “I always have too much luggage on my flights anyway, but I will definitely make room for the BMW bike. That was really a great event, and a completely new experience.
“To play golf in the middle of a city, in a world-famous park – that is not something you do every day. I think it did a very good job of bringing golf to the people.”
This was a sentiment echoed by his compatriot Siem, who saw it as a great way to showcase golf to the general public.
“I have never done anything like that before,” said the 2013 Trophée Hassan II winner. “That is the ideal way to show people how great our sport is – and that we are ok guys. It was great to be so close to the fans. This is how it should be.”
The excitement will continue on Wednesday, when the action returns to Golfclub München Eichenried, where heavyweight boxing champion Wladimir Klitschko and Bayern Munich’s Champions League-winning midfielder Thomas Müller will both be in action.
