World Number One Tiger Woods returns to Germany this week to defend the Deutsche Bank - SAP Open TPC of Europe title. Woods, who captured his seventh Major Championship when he won the Masters Tournament last month, will be seeking to win the title for the third time in four years following his victories in 1999 and 2001.
Both of those victories came at St Leon-Rot but Woods will find a totally different course to the one where he has previously enjoyed success. The first and 18th holes remain the same but the 16 holes in between are all new.
Designed by Dave Thomas and opened 18 months ago, the new holes feature a number of water hazards. Generous greens provide plenty of pin positions.
Twelve months ago Woods conjured up a stroke of genius over the old layout when he holed a 175 yard seven iron for an eagle two at the 13th in the final round on his way to a four stroke victory over Michael Campbell. Woods won the title with a 22 under par total of 266 after closing with a round of 66.
Another American who has enjoyed success on German soil is John Daly. On his last two visits to Germany Daly won the BMW International Open and finished second to Bernhard Langer in the Linde German Masters and he will be seeking his fourth title on The European Tour International Schedule this week.
Lee Westwood has won the title on two of the last four occasions having triumphed in 1998 and 2000 in Hamburg and he will be hoping a return to the Deutsche Bank - SAP Open TPC of Europe will rekindle the competitive spark which helped him win the 2000 Volvo Order of Merit.
The field assembled at St Leon-Rot is once again one of the highest quality. Reigning US Open Retief Goosen, the winner of the 2001 Volvo Order of Merit and current Number One, will be renewing his rivalry with Woods after finishing second in the Masters Tournament and nine of Europe's Ryder Cup Team are also in action.
