Power likely to be the key at BMW International

June 26, 2009

Power could prove to be the decisive factor when the BMW International Open at the Nord Eichenried Golf Club just to the north of Munich tees off on Thursday.

Architects have spent the winter lengthening the course to nearly 7,100 yards and their attempts to counter the longer hitters on the European Tour have been helped by the almost incessant rainfall that has fallen in Bavaria this week.

For those players who last weekend were battling the elements in the US Open at Bethpage last weekend Munich is likely to offer more of the same.

And while the degree to which they may suffer from jetlag could play a part after the second of golfs majors in 2009 was extended to include play on Monday, the eventual winner of the ?2 million ($2.8 million) BMW International could be drawn from the ranks of those who have been racking up their air miles.

Certainly Swedens Henrik Stenson and Northern Irelands Rory McIlroy, who finished 9th and 10th respectively at Long Island will know their game is in good shape to take on the challenge.

McIlroy, who only celebrated his 20th birthday in May, is certainly confident that he can add to his maiden European title which was collected at the Dubai Desert Classic in January.

I had a top 20 on my debut at The Masters and a top ten in my first US Open and that has given me a lot of confidence to move forward for the rest of the summer, McIlroy said.

For Stenson, his performance in America was a welcome return to form. For, after winning the US Tours players championship in May he returned to Europe and promptly missed two successive cuts.

Stenson and McIlroy are both ranked among the biggest hitters in Europe and so to is Martin Kaymer who, in winning the 2008 BMW International title, became the first German for 21 years to win a tournament on home soil.

It is memories of that victory which Kaymer hopes will inspire him to a repeat performance rather than recent form - he missed the cut at the US Open.

Last year I had goose bumps when I heard the cheers from the German crowd on the last hole and I would like to hear them again, Kaymer said. But the course here in Munich has always been tough and now they have extended it.

Pre-publicity for the event has labeled the duel between 24-year-old Kaymer and McIlroy as the battle of the wunderkind however the European Tours brightest young stars may not have it all their own way.

Also in Munich are the American John Daly, who is beginning a three tournament warm up to next months Open Championship at Turnberry, European Ryder Cup captain Colin Montgomerie and Germanys long time golfing hero Bernhard Langer, who is taking a break from the US seniors tour.