Local favourite Martin Kaymer is dreaming of winning the BMW International Open for a second time when he tees it up at Golf Club Gut Laerchenhof ten years after lifting the trophy.
The two-time Major Champion recorded his only European Tour victory on German soil so far when this event was hosted at Golfclub München Eichenried in 2008.
And former World Number One Kaymer is hoping to repeat the trick in Pulheim this week as the race to automatically qualify for the European Team for September's Ryder Cup hots up.
He said: "It's summer. You know, to make some kind of an impact for The Ryder Cup Team would be huge.
"Any tournament that I'm going to play now will be important for myself and obviously trying to win a second title in Germany would be huge.
"I won the BMW International Open but it was on a different golf course. It would be nice to win it on both courses."
Dusseldorf-born Kaymer will enjoy home comforts this week and he is looking forward to getting started.
He added: "I can stay at home and sleep in my own bed, which is quite rare these days, so I take the opportunity to play in Germany.
"I like playing here. The golf course is presented very well, so I look forward to the week."
Kaymer will get his first round under way at 08.40 on Thursday alongside Spain's Sergio Garcia and Dane Thorbjørn Olesen.
Germany has been a happy hunting ground for former Masters Champion Garcia but he has never won this event.
Garcia has come second on two occasions, losing in a play-off against countryman Pablo Larrazabal in 2011 before finishing a single stroke behind winner Andres Romero last year.
The 38 year old is hoping to go one better this week.
He said: "It's always been fun to come back here and play regularly at the BMW International Open and hopefully we'll make another good one this week.
"I've always enjoyed coming to Germany, playing here. It's always been good fun.
"We've been fortunate to do quite well. I haven't been able to win it yet but it's something that I'd love to do and I will hopefully give it a good shot this week.
"The course is probably in the best shape I've seen it since we started playing here. It's good to see the course like that."
