US Open Champion Martin Kaymer has welcomed the return of the European Open to The European Tour International Schedule, after it was announced the €2million event would be played in his native Germany from September 24-27, 2015.
The European Open has not been played since 2009, at the London Golf Club, but the event is being revived this season and will take place at Bad Griesbach Golf Resort for at least the next three years.
It will be the first time the tournament has been contested on the continent, having previously been hosted by seven different venues in the UK and Ireland.
Kaymer said: “I am very pleased that there will be a second European Tour event on German soil (after the BMW International Open). This move is long overdue, and will be great for sport in Germany.
Kaymer’s compatriot Marcel Siem, who recently won the BMW Masters and finished seventh in The 2014 Race to Dubai Rankings, added: “The European Open is a great tournament, and I’m delighted it will be taking place in Germany.”
The superb Bad Griesbach Golf Resort follows a stellar list of former venues, including Walton Heath in Surrey, which hosted the first edition in 1978, neighbouring Sunningdale, Turnberry in Scotland, 2006 Ryder Cup host The K Club in Dublin, East Sussex National in south-east England and the London Golf Club in Kent.
Former winners include eight-time Order of Merit winner Colin Montgomerie, Major Champions Darren Clarke, Bernhard Langer, Retief Goosen and Michael Campbell and Ryder Cup star Lee Westwood.
Dr Hans-Dieter Cleven, co-owner of the Golf Resort Bad Griesbach and shareholder of the tournament promoter 4Sports & Entertainment AG, said: “We had a chance to secure this highlight of professional golf in Europe, and we took it.”
Keith Waters, The European Tour’s Chief Operating Officer and Director of International Policy, said: “For many years, the European Open was an integral part of The European Tour’s International Schedule, so we are delighted that the tournament will be part of The Race to Dubai this season.
“To have a second tournament in Germany, an important and growing market for The European Tour, is also a big boost for us, and the success of the BMW International Open has highlighted the appetite the country has for tournament golf. It is also another boost for tournament golf in mainland Europe following the addition of the Czech Masters and Made in Denmark last year.
“Promoter 4Sports and host venue Golf Resort Bad Griesbach, which is part of the Hartl Resort, obviously have a vital role to play in the success of this tournament, and we look forward to working with them and supporting them over the next ten months.”
