After the adventures of Chambers Bay, Marcel Siem is back on home soil this week for the BMW International Open, and looking forward to interacting with the German fans.
The 34 year old has close connections with this part of the world, having won the Club Championship at Golfclub München Eichenried in 1990.
Siem, who sits 50th in the Race to Dubai after featuring in only eight European Tour events so far this season, has had a quiet season by his high standards, but home comforts could help change that.
“I love to play in front of the crowds in Germany,” he said. “My year hasn’t been that good so far, so I think it's going to help me a lot to have the 12th man here with me on the pitch, so to speak.
“I can't wait to experience that and hopefully I’m going to make a lot of birdies and have a few fist pumps and a lot of interaction with the crowds.” Marcel Siem
If history has taught us anything about the flamboyant and talented German, it is that he can spark into life and go on birdie runs at any given moment.
With the average winning score at this event when it has been hosted by the Golfclub Munchen Eichenried being 19 under par, Siem could have plenty of opportunities to go on one of those characteristic charges.
A pair of 73s meant he narrowly miss the cut at the US Open, however if Siem can address his putting concerns, it could be a different story here in the south of Germany this week.
“I was quite happy with my game overall at Chambers Bay, it’s just I putted really, really poorly,” he said.
“Tee to fairway, it was pretty easy going for me. I think it was easier than a normal U.S. Open, and fairway to green was all right, as well. But it wasn’t the same around the greens.”
With a bit of jet lag lingering, there was no hiding for last year’s BMW Masters Champion, who had his daughter Carlotta’s first birthday party to take care of on Tuesday afternoon.
“I’ll hit a few balls on the range and then we have a little birthday party coming up,” said Siem.
“It’s great to have the kids and the family around. And I think I'm doing pretty good at the moment with the jet lag as well. The kids help with that by making you tired.”
First birthday parties, plenty of sleep and familiar surroundings might just help Marcel rediscover that magic touch this week.
