When 2010 US PGA Champion Martin Kaymer tees off at his home event – the BMW International Open from June 26-29 – he will do so as the new US Open champion.
The 29-year-old from Düsseldorf tamed the demanding Pinehurst No. 2 course to finish on nine under par and end the tournament a sensational eight shots ahead of his closest rivals, Americans Rickie Fowler and Erik Compton.
Sunday’s victory was Kaymer’s second big title of the year, having previously won the Players Championship in Sawgrass. The 2008 BMW International Open winner has climbed from 28th to 11th in the world rankings on the back of his latest success.
Kaymer not only became the first German, but also the first player from continental Europe, to win the US Open.
Like the US Open, Germany’s only European Tour event has also had just one winner with a black, red and gold flag next to his name. However, the signs are there that this could all change in 2014.
The Germans among the field at the BMW International Open impressed at Pinehurst, and appear to have hit fine form just in time for their home tournament.
Kaymer’s historic US Open triumph inevitably makes him one of the hot favourites. Marcel Siem, who narrowly missed out on victory the first time Gut Lärchenhof hosted the event two years ago, also impressed at Pinehurst, finishing tied in twelfth place. Alex Cejka was 60th in a world-class field.
BMW Golfsport Ambassador Max Kieffer may have failed to make the cut on his first appearance in a Major, but still gained valuable experience and confidence.
Golf fans can expect some fireworks at the BMW International Open, as the international stars also arrive in top form. Henrik Stenson, who became the first player ever to win both the FedExCup and The Race to Dubai in 2013, travels to the Rhineland region of Germany as number two in the world.
His fourth place at the US Open shows that the Swede is most certainly a force to be reckoned with. The same can be said of Spain’s number eight in the world, Sergio García.
Also well-placed at what is probably the toughest of the four Majors, were BMW International Open starters Franceso Molinari of Italy, Victor Dubuisson of France and Danny Willett of England, who will be looking to regain the title he won at Gut Lärchenhof two years ago.
