The BMW International Open continues to entice some of Europe’s top golfers with a host of big names in attendance this week at Golf Club Gut Laerchnhof including Masters champion Danny Willett and two-time winner of the event, Pablo Larrazábal.
With 24 different winners in the last 27 editions of this event, clearly any member of this high-class field could triumph in Pulheim so let’s drill a little deeper into the assembled cast.
In the field are:
150 players from 27 different nations
78 European Tour winners
2 former European Number Ones
Henrik Stenson (2013)
Robert Karlsson (2008)
3 Major Champions with 3 titles between them
Danny Willett (The Masters, 2016)
YE Yang (US PGA Championship, 2009)
Paul Lawrie (The Open, 1999)
10 past winner of the BMW International Open
Robert Karlsson (1999)
Thomas Bjørn (2000, 2002)
Miguel Ángel Jiménez (2004)
David Howell (2005)
Henrik Stenson (2006)
Niclas Fasth (2007)
Nick Dougherty (2009)
David Horsey (2010)
Pablo Larrazábal (2011, 2015)
Fabrizio Zanotti (2014)
13 Ryder Cup players
Thomas Bjorn (1997, 2002, 2014)
Nicolas Colsaerts (2012)
Niclas Fasth (2002)
Ross Fisher (2010)
Sergio Garcia (1999, 2002, 2004, 2006, 2008, 2012, 2014)
Peter Hanson (2010, 2012)
David Howell (2004, 2006)
Miguel Ángel Jiménez (1999, 2004, 2008, 2010)
Robert Karlsson (2006, 2008)
Paul Lawrie (1999, 2012)
Edoardo Molinari (2010)
Henrik Stenson (2006, 2008, 2014)
Oliver Wilson (2008)
13 winners from the 2016 Race to Dubai
Branden Grace – Commercial Bank Qatar Masters
Danny Willett – Omega Dubai Desert Classic, the Masters Tournament
Andrew Johnston – Real Club Valderrama Open de España
Nathan Holman – Australian PGA Championship
Brandon Stone – The BMW SA Open hosted by City of Ekurhuleni
Haydn Porteous – Joburg Open
Marcus Fraser – Maybank Championship Malaysia
Scott Hend – True Thailand Classic Presented by Chang
SSP Chawrasia – Hero Indian Open
Soomin Lee – Shenzhen International
Jeunghun Wang – Trophee Hassan II, AfrAsia Bank Mauritius Open
Ashun Wu – Lyoness Open powered by Sporthilfe Cashback Card
Li Haotong – Volvo China Open
6 of the current top 15 in the Race to Dubai
Danny Willett (1)
Branden Grace (6)
Joost Luiten (10)
Rikard Karlberg (13)
Sergio Garcia (14)
Soomin Lee (15)
13 players arriving straight from the US Open at Oakmont Country Club including…
Sergio Garcia (T5)
Branden Grace (T5)
Andy Sullivan (T23)
Matteo Manassero (T46)
Longest Driver in the field is….
Sebastien Gros (Avg. Distance - 314.9 yds)
Best Putter in the field is….
Alejandro Cañizares (Avg. Putts per Round - 28.1)
1 player with a BMW International Open albatross to his name
Rafa Echenique (2009) – one of just two in tournament history
