The European Tour returns to Green Eagle Golf Course for the third consecutive year, with a host of star names in attendance for the Porsche European Open. Here are five things to know before the tournament gets under way from September 5-8.
World-class field
After a gripping finish in Switzerland it’s all eyes on Green Eagle Golf Course, with a world-class field set to contest the 37th edition of the historic championship. Ryder Cup star Matt Kuchar will make his first appearance in Germany for over a decade, with compatriots Patrick Reed, the 2018 Masters Champion, and World Number 9 Xander Schauffele and Troy Merritt also making the trip across the Atlantic. Austrian Bernd Wiesberger, second on the Race to Dubai Rankings presented by Rolex after two wins this season and Thomas Pieters, who returned to the winner’s circle with victory in the D+D Czech Masters are also in the field, alongside English Ryder Cup star Paul Casey.
Reed returns to Germany for the Porsche European Championship for the third consecutive season.
An Honorary Life Member of the European Tour, the American finished runner-up in the Race to Dubai Rankings last season following six top ten finishes, including a tie for ninth as last year’s Porsche European Open. The 28-year-old will look to better that performance at the Hamburg venue this time around as he goes in search of his third European Tour title.
Longest Holes
At 663 yards, the 16th hole at Green Eagle Golf Club is the longest hole on the European Tour schedule with the 647 yard ninth hole not far behind as the second longest hole! These two help Green Eagle claim third place in the longest courses of the season behind only the Gary Player Country Club and Jumeirah Golf Estates which will host the final two events.
A long-awaited victory
Richard McEvoy became the second successive Englishman to clinch his maiden European Tour title at the Porsche European Open last season. In his 285th start on the European Tour, McEvoy finally ended his long wait for glory with a one-shot triumph over German amateur Allen John, Swede Christofer Blomstrand and Italian Renato Paratore. The tenth English success at the long-running championship, his triumph came just one week after he clinched his third European Challenge Tour title at Le Vaudreuil Golf Challenge, in France. He was the first person in eight years to follow up a European Challenge Tour victory with a win on the European Tour.
Twelve months on, McEvoy will bid to become the third player to successfully defend his title after Lee Westwood (1999, 2000) and Per-Ulrik Johansson (1996, 1997).
Amateur antics
Allen John returns to Green Eagle Golf Course twelve months after the then amateur pulled off an unforgettable performance on home soil, carding a closing round of 67 to finish in a share of second place. The German, who captured gold at the Deaflympics in 2017, thrilled the home fans with a stunning performance on the final day, with a birdie on the last by eventual champion Richard McEvoy all that stood between the 30-year-old and a place in the play-off.
Having now rejoined the professional ranks, the local star will be relooking to replicate his heroics in Hamburg as he goes in search of his first European Tour victory.
Illustrious history
The Porsche European Open will return to Germany for the fifth consecutive year with Green Eagle Golf Club, again set to assume hosting duties.
First played back in 1978 at Walton Heath, the tournament was previously staged at venues across the UK and Ireland with a plethora of European legends having previously lifted the trophy, including Greg Norman, Bernhard Langer, Sandy Lyle, Sir Nick Faldo, Lee Westwood, Retief Goosen, Darren Clarke and Colin Montgomerie.
The latter would secure the last of his 31 European Tour victories at the championship in 2007, which was one of 13 contests to be staged at the K Club.
