Bernhard Langer chases his sixth German Open title over the Nick Faldo-designed Sporting Club of Berlin course this week. Langer, seeking his 11th title overall on his native soil, faces a stiff challenge from Costantino Rocca and a host of 1999 European Tour winners.[
However the youthful-looking Australian golfer, Stephen Allan, won't defend his title after qualifying for the US Open at Pinehurst.
Instead, he recalled his finest moment on the European Tour. He said:: “Last year I was probably playing my worst golf of the season.
“There was nothing in the warm up to the event to suggest that a victory was in the offing. But getting to a great golf course helped me recover my rhythm.
“The course is visually very good, with solid holes, exquisite bunkering and firm and fast greens. In fact, I would say it is one of the best we play all year.”
For a long time last year it seemed that Spain’s Ignacio Garrido would successfully defend his title, especially when Allan triple-bogeyed the short 13th in the final round.
He said: “I landed in a bush and had to take a penalty drop and duffed a couple of chips. I was sure that six would cost me the title and I set out to play for second place.
“I managed to birdie the 15th and 16th to get back into it and when Ignacio also made a double bogey we were level. I made a great up and down at the last and he dropped another shot at the 17th.
“Both Padraig Harrington and Mark Roe had chances as well but they bogeyed and I scrambled home. It was a great relief!”
Per-Ulrik Johansson is another absentee due to his qualification for the US Open but potential Ryder Cup candidates Sven Struver, Andrew Coltart and Jarmo Sandelin continue the seatch for points.
When driving from Berlin you are aware of a gradual change to the surrounding countryside, from flat rolling landscape to rugged pine forestry and lakes more similar with North Canada. On arriving at Sporting Club Berlin you are blinded by sheer beauty.
The Nick Faldo-designed course, where the German Open is to be played this week for the second time, has already become one of the most praised on the European Tour circuit.
Faldo has drawn on all his experience from playing great courses all over the world to create a wonderful test for world class golfers. Constructed on sand, it resembles a links with undulating, open fairways and deep bunkers that would not be out of place at Royal Birkdale or Muirfield.
The first nine is open and rolling, the back nine more picturesque. All the course could be affected by windy conditions similar to those on a Scottish links and with 130 bunkers to negotiate players will be fully tested.
Langer is bidding for his sixth German Open title and 11th title in his native Germany. Indeed, he is in the process of designing a third course at Sporting Club Berlin to add to the existing two 18-hole championship courses designed by Faldo and Arnold Palmer.
The courses are complimented by a purpose built 300 metre practice ground with practice putting and chipping greens.
This is the 65th edition of the German Open, first won by Harry Vardon in 1911.Since then the likes of J H Taylor, Henry Cotton, Bobby Locke, Peter Thomson and Roberto de Vicenzo, all winners of major championships, have claimed the German Open crown.
Since the birth of the European Tour Seve Ballesteros, Tony Jacklin, Bernhard Langer and Ian Woosnam have continued that tradition and added their names to the Honours Board.
