Returning to a course where you have won before may seem fairly run of the mill when you have 24 European Tour wins - but Lee Westwood's victory at Golfclub München Eichenried 16 years ago was one of the most important of his career.
The Englishman already had 14 European Tour trophies to his name when he teed it up at the 2003 BMW International Open but his career was in a very different place to where it had been less than three years previously.
Westwood had claimed five of those wins as he won the Order of Merit in 2000 but failed to finish in Europe's top 50 in the following two seasons and slipped out of the top 200 on the Official World Golf Ranking.
The triumph on his debut at Golfclub München Eichenried in 2003 ended a drought of almost three years and started the renaissance that would eventually guide him to World Number One.
Making his first appearance at this event in 13 years, Westwood finished his rain-affected first round with a birdie in the twilight for a 68 and picked up where he left off on Friday morning, making gains on the 11th, 12th, 15th and 18th to move into a two shot lead.
A bogey on the second halted his momentum but he made some smart up-and-downs on the way in for a second round 69 that left him right in the mix heading into the weekend.
"It was good," he said. "I played really solid. I’ve not played for three weeks and I don’t play a lot when I’m away from tournaments. I drove the ball nicely, my short game was pretty sharp and I felt pretty good on the greens. I’m glad to be in contention going into the weekend.
"It’s a good test straight away from the tee. You’re under pressure to hit fairways and control your iron shots, you don’t just fly it at the flag and expect it to stop. You have to allow for a bit of release but you don’t want to short-side yourself and leave a tough up-and-down. It’s a proper golf course.”
I’m glad to be in contention going into the weekend - Lee Westwood
Westwood's excellent opening two rounds are all the more impressive considering his clubs did not arrive in Munich on time and he is playing with a set made for him at the last minute.
“I’ve used all my new clubs, I won’t change now," he added. "I’ll just have a lot of baggage to take home.
"At some point, I’m going to need a kitchen sink out there. I do tend to carry a few things I’ll maybe use once a year."
