One of the long running European Tour events takes place this week in the BMW International Open in Germany. This is generally one of the more popular stops on the tour and once again some big names have been attracted to the event as the Europe swing really gets going from here on in.
Henrik Stenson won a rain affected tournament last year and he is here to defend his title but this looks quite a competitive event for this time of year.
Recent Winners
2016 – Henrik Stenson
2015 – Pablo Larrazabal
2014 – Fabrizio Zanotti
2013 – Ernie Els
2012 – Danny Willett
2011 – Pablo Larrazabal
2010 – David Horsey
2009 – Nick Dougherty
2008 – Martin Kaymer
2007 – Niclas Fasth
The Course
This tournament alternates between two courses and this year it is the turn of the Golfclub Munchen Eichenried to play host to the event. It now hosts in the odd years having original had sole hosting rights prior to the start of this decade.
This course is similar in a way to Erin Hills last week in that it has wide open and expansive fairways where the big hitters can let their arms go but if you look down the list of those who have won here they are all excellent putters who make a lot of birdies. Scoring is very much the order of the day around the 7,181 yard par 72 track.
The Field
When you think it was the US Open last week to have three fairly recent major champions in the field here is full credit to the organisers. Henrik Stenson, Martin Kaymer and Sergio Garcia are all teeing it up this week.
2017 tournament winners Tommy Fleetwood, Dylan Frittelli, Bernd Wiesberger, Dean Burmester and Graeme Storm are among a raft of event champions in the field so this is quite a competitive little event it must be said.
Market Leaders
Sergio Garcia will go into the tournament as the 15/2 favourite to win it but having played four long rounds at Erin Hills last week he might just be honouring commitments here. At any rate you wouldn’t want him putting for you in a birdie fest so there should be better value elsewhere.
Henrik Stenson defends the title on the other course to the one he won on last year and he is 8/1 to keep hold of the title. He missed the cut in the US Open last week so he might be better treated but whether he is on top of his game is another story. Personally I’d want him close to his best to be backing a single figure price.
Bernd Wiesberger should like this track and 14/1 is a fair price without being anything too special. He went the distance at Erin Hills last week though and I really do have a feeling that the lengthy slog that course was may leave its mark on its combatants this week so the Austrian isn’t for me.
Martin Kaymer and Tommy Fleetwood are both 20/1 to win here but both have lengthy US Opens to get over. I have to say I would have liked Fleetwood if he wasn’t so deeply involved last week. Rafa Cabrera Bello is also 20/1 and should put in a good showing but his failure to perform on Sunday’s puts me off especially at that price. It is 28/1 bar.
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Main Bets
I’m going with two main bets this week. I’m keen to avoid players who were on that physically demanding Erin Hills track last week and I’ve found two who were nowhere near the place.
Pablo Larrazabal is an obvious pick this week and I dare say he will be a popular one too. He has won twice around this course and was third prior to that as well. There aren’t many putters on the European Tour than he and it is clear he enjoys the wide open spaces off the tee so even at 28/1 I’m expecting a strong showing from the Spaniard here.
Dylan Frittelli is making his debut on this course but I expect the recent Lyoness Open winner to really like what he sees. It was always going to be a case of when and not if the South African broke his duck on the European Tour and now he has won an event I’m expecting plenty more wins to follow. He’s had a couple of weeks to get over the joy of his maiden success at this level and should be back to business looking to build on that here.
Outsiders
I’m taking two outsiders in this tournament too who again were nowhere near Erin Hills last week. Both belt it a mile off the tee and make plenty of birdies which is exactly what I’m looking for this week.
Renato Paratore has already won this season when he won the Nordea Masters three weeks ago and he has had a couple of decent runs around that too as he really comes to the fore this season. Paratore gets it out there and makes plenty of birdies and if he can keep the mistakes off his card he shouldn’t be too far away.
Marcel Siem has a couple of top 10 finishes on the season and they both came at tracks with freedom off the tee in Sicily and Sweden. He has three top 15 finishes around this course and with the home crowds behind him I’m expecting another decent showing. Siem showed that he can putt when he was in the top 15 at The Grove last season and so there is plenty going for him this week.
Tips
Back P.Larrazabal to win BMW International Open (e/w) for a 1/10 stake at 29.00 with Boylesports (1/5 1-6)
Back him here:
Back D.Frittelli to win BMW International Open (e/w) for a 1/10 stake at 41.00 with Paddy Power (1/5 1-6)
Back him here:
Back R.Paratore to win BMW International Open (e/w) for a 0.5/10 stake at 81.00 with Betfred (1/4 1-5)
Back him here:
Back M.Siem to win BMW International Open (e/w) for a 0.5/10 stake at 81.00 with Skybet (1/4 1-6)
Back him here:
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