European Tour: Kaymer, Pieters Headline European Open
Martin Kaymer of Germany will look to become the third European Tour player in as many weeks to win in his home country at the Porsche European Open.
It may be unwise to play a European Tour event directly before the Ryder Cup in Minnesota next week, but that hasn’t stopped Team Europe members Martin Kaymer and Thomas Pieters. The duo will headline the field at this week’s Porsche European Open, to be held at Golf Resort Bad Griesbach in Germany. Thanks to their talents, as well as the publicity generated by the upcoming matches, they should draw big crowds.
Rory McIlroy was the lone member of Team Europe to qualify for the Tour Championship in the finale of the PGA Tour’s FedEx Cup playoffs, while seven of the 11 U.S. members (the 12th member will be selected on Sept. 26) are also in the field in Georgia.
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Back in Germany, Thongchai Jaidee of Thailand is another name to watch come Sunday. The world No. 46 fended off Graeme Storm to win this event last year, and he was a winner in France back in July. Now 46, Jaidee became the oldest winner in this event’s history last year, and he’d love to break his own record.
A trio of 40-something major champions — Y.E. Yang, Padraig Harrington and Ernie Els — also headlines the field, which features 155 players.
A modest American contingent will also be present via tournament invitation. Fresh off of storied college careers, Charlie Danielson of Illinois and Lee McCoy of Georgia will head to Germany along with PGA Tour members Luke List, Matt Every and Bud Cauley.
Mar 13, 2016; Palm Harbor, FL, USA; Amateur Lee McCoy lines up his eagle putt on the 1st hole during the final round of the Valspar Championship at Innisbrook Resort – Copperhead Course. Mandatory Credit: Rob Schumacher-USA TODAY Sports
The event is in just its second running at Bad Griesbach. It has been held in five different countries under eight names, with a hiatus between 2010 and 2014. Only three past champions are in the field this week: Jaidee (2015), Phillip Price (2003) and Matthias Grönberg (1998).
While several stars have opted to forgo this event, those in the field will have an opportunity to make a move in the Race to Dubai standings. Only six events remain in the regular season before the Final Series begins in November. Kaymer, at No. 12, is tops in the field on the points list.
Bad Griesbach is a parkland-style par 71, measuring in at 7,188 yards. Last year’s average score was 70.45. The course, located in Bavaria just under 100 miles east of Munich, also hosted a European Challenge Tour event in 2013 and 2014.
Recent heavy rain will likely make for wet conditions, perhaps favoring the longer hitters in the field. If a guy like Nicolas Colsaerts (ninth on the European Tour in driving, 304.1 yards/drive) can find the fairway (160th, 54.2% accuracy), he could find success here.
The tournament will be aired in the U.S. on the Golf Channel from 5 to 7 a.m. and from 8 to 11 a.m. on Thursday through Saturday, and from 6:30 to 11 a.m. on Sunday.
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Who will come out on top in Germany? Should European Ryder Cup members Martin Kaymer and Thomas Pieters be playing in Europe this week? Let us know on Facebook or Twitter, and keep it here at Pro Golf Now for more European Tour updates.