BMW International Open Preview: TV Times, Betting Tips

The European Tour resumes this week for the BMW International in Germany. Here’s how to watch, and who to back 

Defending champion Matt Wallace and Sergio Garcia are among the names travelling back to Germany after competing in the U.S Open at Pebble Beach last week as the European Tour gets back underway in Munich.

Last year, Thorbjorn Olesen fired a course record 61 to put the pressure on the leaders, but Matt Wallace made five birdies in the space of seven holes on his back nine to beat out the Dane, Mikko Korhonen and Martin Kaymer by a shot. 

But course history won’t be a huge advantage this week, as Golfclub München Eichenried has undergone a huge amount of change over the past year with completely resurfaced greens that have far more undulations, with 60m in length added to the previous course in total.

Below, find out how to keep up to date with all the action from Munich, and who to back for the 2019 event.

Course: Golfclub München Eichenried 
Par: 72 | 7,181 yards
Prize Fund: €2,000,000
Race to Dubai Points: 2,750
Defending Champion: Matt Wallace
Course Record: 61, Thorbjorn Olesen (’18)

BMW International Open: TV Times

Thursday: Sky Sports Golf (10:30), Sky Sports Golf (14:30)

Friday: Sky Sports Golf (10:30), Sky Sports Golf (14:30)

Saturday: Sky Sports Golf (13:00)

Sunday: Sky Sports Golf (11:30)

BMW International Open: Betting Tips 

Matt Wallace: 11/1
The defending chamion comes to Germany after a T12 at the US Open – following top 5s at the British Masters and PGA Championship (and a T41 in Denmark). Since his win last year he has had a further victory at last year’s Made in Denmark, and will be hoping for win number four. Ranks 8th for scoring average, 11th for birdie average and inside the top 30 on the European Tour this season for both SG: Tee to green and SG: Around the green. 

Sergio Garcia: 12/1
Sergio Garcia contended early on in the US Open before faltering over the weekend, and admitted he didn’t feel like his swing was in the right place. But don’t let that put you off, because Garcia is a two time runner-up here as well, finished T12 last year and had top 10s in 2017, 2016 and 2013 – so it’s clearly a course he feels comfortable at. Ranks 2nd GIR, 4th SG: Tee to green, 7th scoring average and 9th SG: Off the tee on the European Tour this season.

Matthew Fitzpatrick: 14/1
Following a T12 last week at Pebble Beach, Fitzpatrick returns to Europe for his first start since the Omega Dubai Desert Classic, having played the majority of his golf on the PGA Tour. Playing in his first start here since a MC in 2015. Ranks 17th SG: Off the tee on PGA Tour, and 2nd for scoring average on European Tour for his 16 rounds. 

Martin Kaymer: 16/1
Having something of a resurgance that includes top 10s at the Betfred British Masters and Memorial Tournament, before a T35 last week at Pebble Beach. He led the US Open field in SG: Approach and was 8th in GIR – but just needs a better week on the greens if he wants to contend. If you need another reason to back Kaymer, he was the 2008 champion here and finished tied for second last year. 

Joost Luiten: 22/1
Luiten finish T8 at the British Masters for his fourth top 10 of the year, but has since gone T64-T62 at the PGA Championship and the Memorial Tournament. He’ll be one of the players heading in after a couple of weeks off, and has a good record here that includes back to back top 16s in his last two starts, with two top 10s in 2011 and 2013. Boasts impressive stats, ranking 2nd SG: Tee to green, 4th SG: Approach the green, 9th GIR, 12th SG: Off the tee and 23rd for stroke average on the European Tour this season. 

Erik Van Rooyen: 25/1
With three top 10s in his last seven starts – including a T8 at the PGA championship, Van Rooyen has been incredibly consistent this year, and comes in after a T43 at the US Open. Making his first start in this event. Ranks 10th for birdie average and 23rd for SG: Putting. 

Jordan Smith: 25/1
Missed the cut at the Made in Denmark but had three top 10s and a T14 in his previous four starts. Didn’t play here last year and was T44 on his debut as a rookie. Ranks 7th GIR and for 18th scoring average. 

Thomas Detry: 25/1
Finished T13 in his last start at the Belgian Knockout, which was his third top 15 in his last four starts (excluding a WD from the Volvo China Open). Looking for his maiden Tour title, and has finished T18 – T2 here the last two years. Ranks 20th SG: Putting. 

Bernd Wiesberger: 33/1
Struggled over the weekend at the US Open but won his first event since returning from his wrist injury at the Made in Denmark and followed it with a T8 at the Belgian Knockout. T20 in his last start here in 2017, T7 in 2016, and a best of T4 in 2013. Ranks 20th SG: Around the green. 

Thorbjorn Olesen: 33/1
Last year’s runner-up also finished second in 2016, but is something of a gamble this week given that he has missed his last two cuts in a row with his best result since January a T21 at the Masters. Ranks 24th SG: Approach

Chris Paisley: 40/1
Followed up his second top 10 of the year at the Made in Denmark with a 17th place finish at the Belgian Knockout so comes in to the tournament in form, and was T26 here last year. Ranks 30th SG: Putting.

David Lipsky: 40/1
Back-to-back T5s in his last two European Tour starts at the Volvo China Open and Trophee Hassan II before heading to America for a T71 at the PGA and T48 at the Memorial. T18 here in 2018 and T10 in 2017. Ranks 23rd birdie average, 29th scoring average. 

Pablo Larrazabal: 40/1
Was T4 in Denmark and T8 at the British Masters before WD’ing from the Belgian Knockout. He was also the champion here in both 2015 and 2011, and has two other top 10s and a T14 in his last four starts at the BMW International Open – but skipped the event last year. Ranks 24th for birdie average.

Oliver Wilson: 50/1
Like Larrazabal, Wilson had back-to-back top 10s at Hillside and in Denmark before going to the Belgian Knockout, where he finished T34 – so is clearly in form. The only drawback to Wilson is that he hasn’t played here since a MC in 2016. Ranks 14th SG: Putting, 21st for SG: Around the green and 23rd for scrambling.

Robert MacIntyre: 50/1
The young Scot has impressed so far in his European Tour rookie year, with back-to-back runner-up finishes at the British Masters and Made in Denmark, and followed it with a T34 in Belgium. Making his debut here, but has proven he can challenge the Tour’s best. Ranks 26th for scoring average this season.

Matthew Southgate: 80/1
Back to back top 10s heading in to the tournament this year, making Southgate a good each-way bet this week. He hasn’t teed up here since a T51 in 2017, however, but will be hoping his form from the past two events will carry over. Ranks 23rd SG: Off the tee and 29th for SG: Approach.