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BMW International Open Preview, Picks & Analysis

By: Golf Shake | Mon 22 Jun 2015


Post by Sports Writer, Derek Clements 


AFTER the madness that was the US Open at Chambers Bay, sanity returns to the European Tour, with Martin Kaymer heading the field at the BMW International in Munich.

He will be joined by Henrik Stenson and PGA Tour star Camillo Villegas, one of a growing number of players now extending their schedules to take in Europe.

Two-time major winner Kaymer will be bidding to secure the title for the second time in his career, having triumphed in 2008. Stenson also has a victory on the BMW International Open on his resumé, while Villegas – a winner of four PGA Tour titles, including the 2008 BMW Championship – will be making his debut in the tournament.

There will be a strong German presence, with BMW Masters champion Marcel Siem also in the field, along with Alex Cejka, who returns to the European Tour after his maiden win on the PGA Tour. Home fans will expect big things from Kaymer, back home after an unsuccessful defence of his US Open title. Kaymer, along with everybody else who was at Chambers Bay, will be delighted to get back on a normal golf course.

Chambers Bay tested the players' patience to the limit and beyond, with some astonishing pin positions on greens that were the most undulating most of the guys have ever played on. Thankfully, there was no wind to make the field look silly - the golf course did that all by itself.

Kaymer believes he is close to his best and is looking forward to The Open at St Andrews, where he will attempt to win the third leg of a career Grand Slam. If he can get his long irons firing properly, he will be a handful for anybody.

And Stenson, who produced some fireworks at the US Open, is eager to get his preparations on track for The Open too. He is also playing in the French Open and the Scottish Open and seems certain to feature in Germany.

One of the best fields of the year includes Lyoness Open winner Chris Wood, Irish Open champion Soren Kjeldsen, Tommy Fleetwood, Victor Dubuisson, Alexander Levy, Shane Lowry, Bernd Weisberger, Rafa Cabrera Bello, Tyrrell Hatton and Peter Uihlein.

Oliver Wilson, who won the Alfred Dunhill championship last year after enduring a miserable run of form, hoped that his victory would signal a return to the form that secured him a Ryder Cup place, but he is struggling once more and will be desperate to find some confidence in Germany before the season gets away from him.

Spectators are given free admission to the course on the first two days - an initiative that is sure to attract decent crowds, and one that should be followed elsewhere as golf struggles to compete with other sports.
To win: Martin Kaymer. Sure to rise to the occasion in front of home fans

BMW International Open Preview & Picks

To win: Martin Kaymer 14/1. Sure to rise to the occasion in front of home fans

Each way: Shane Lowry 18/1 The Irishman is a much better golfer than recent results indicate

Each way: Marcel Siem 80/1 I have a funny feeling that Siem is ready for a good week

BMW International Open Fantasy Picks:

Martin Kaymer. Could do with a win

Shane Lowry. Hitting the ball superbly

Marcel Siem. Loves playing on home turf

Chris Wood. Win in Austria has done wonders for his confidence

Alexander Levy. Showing signs of last season's form

Matt Fitzpatrick. The young man looks like he belongs

Tyrrell Hatton. Victory is just around the corner

Bernd Weisberger. Desperate to make up for meltdown in Austria

Peter Uihlein. Back to his brilliant best

Rafa Cabrera Bello. On a great run of form


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Tags: european tour



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