GOLF: EUROPEAN TOUR BMW INTERNATIONAL:INSTEAD OF wanting to play like Tiger Woods, everybody now wants to play like Rory McIlroy – and that includes world number three Martin Kaymer on home turf this week.
Whereas McIlroy broke 70 in every round in winning the US Open by eight with a record score on Sunday, Kaymer failed to break 70 in any round and came 39th – 19 strokes behind the Ulster man.
McIlroy is now on a three-week break before the British Open at Sandwich, but Kaymer has gone straight from Washington to Munich for the BMW International Open, which starts today.
The 26-year-old, who in 2008 became the first German to win the event in its 22-year history, is part of an all-Europe top four in the world.
That has not happened for almost 20 years and he told the European Tour website: “I think it’s something to do with the Europeans playing worldwide and becoming more complete players.
“We travel a lot and experience everything.
“Watching Rory made me want to practise more – it’s inspirational. If you see somebody playing as well as Rory you want to go out and become a better player.
“Rory was impressive. I didn’t see 16 under being the winning score. He was on auto pilot.”
Back in February 1992, Bernhard Langer stood fifth in an all-European top five with Ian Woosnam, Nick Faldo, Jose Maria Olazabal and Seve Ballesteros ahead of him.
The former Ryder Cup captain has now taken time out from the American seniors circuit to make his 450th European Tour appearance.
It should have come at The Masters in April, but Langer was sidelined from that after a bike accident meant he needed thumb surgery.
On the current healthy state of European golf, the 53-year-old Langer said: “We should savour this. It doesn’t come around too often. There was a unique crop of players in the 1980s who came along and won majors and it’s unique again.
“It’s another generation and I think they benefit from playing each other and beating each other regularly. That’s human nature.
“They know they can beat them and they know they are just as good and they go out and prove it. For years there was a drought – now it’s the opposite.
“I was more than impressed watching Rory. It’s not often you see a player shoot these kind of scores in a major.
“Rory is a phenomenal talent and has one of the best swings.”
Another who could take inspiration from McIlroy is his friend Shane Lowry, who will be teeing off in Munich, along with fellow Irishmen Peter Lawrie, Damien McGrane, and Gareth Maybin.
American world number 11 Dustin Johnson could take up European Tour membership in the future as he tees off at the BMW.
Johnson, who won the BMW Championship on the PGA Tour last year, heads to Europe having finished tied 23rd in the US Open.
The 27-year-old Johnson played with McIlroy for the first two rounds at the Congressional and is now contemplating playing on both sides of the Atlantic.
“My first few years on (PGA) tour I didn’t really travel and this year I want to play a little more international,” Johnson said. “I’m going to probably continue to play a few events every year overseas.”
Sergio Garcia is another notable entry. The Spaniard, showing signs of making a return to the form that took him close to the world number one spot less than two years ago, has come to Munich on the back of a tied seventh place in the US Open.
THE LOWDOWN:
Course:GC Munchen Eichenreid
Length:7,073 yards. Par: 72.
Prizemoney:€2 million (€333,330 for the winner
Field:156.
Defending champion:David Horsey
First played:1989.
Most wins:Thomas Bjorn (twice)
On TV:Sky Sports
Weather:Heavy rain expected today and intermittent showers for the rest of the week. Weather cool but little wind.
