TOURNAMENT HISTORY.

BMW’s debut on the professional golf scene.

Tournament History.BMW’s debut on the professional golf scene.

BMW INTERNATIONAL OPEN.

Germany's most iconic tournament.

No other tournament on the European Tour has been held continuously under the same name for as long as the BMW International Open. The longest-spanning professional golf tournament in Germany was first held back in 1989. This also marked BMW’s arrival on the professional golf scene, and it is now hard to imagine the sport without the company’s involvement.

THE HISTORY OF THE BMW INTERNATIONAL OPEN.

The first BMW International Open was held in 1989. The winner of the inaugural tournament was Northern Ireland’s David Feherty, who has since gone on to enjoy a successful career as a TV expert in the USA. Like now, the venue for the first tournament was Golfclub München Eichenried. Only between 1994 and 1996 did the event switch to St. Eurach Land- und Golfclub, in addition the venue has been alternated between Eichenried and Gut Lärchenhof, near Cologne, between 2012 and 2018.

The roll of honour at the BMW International Open includes many big names. Record winners, with two wins apiece, are American Paul Azinger (1990, 1992), Denmark’s Thomas Bjørn (2000, 2002), Pablo Larrazábal from Spain (2011, 2015), and Sweden's Henrik Stenson (2006, 2016). The youngest – and, to date, the only German – winner is Martin Kaymer, who claimed an emotional victory at the 20thanniversary of the tournament in 2008, aged 23 years and 177 days. Other winners include Sandy Lyle, Robert Karlsson, Colin Montgomerie, Lee Westwood, Miguel Ángel Jiménez, Henrik Stenson, Ernie Els and John Daly, who won in 2001 with the lowest score in the history of the tournament (261 shots, -27).

Spectators appreciate the relaxed atmosphere at the BMW International Open. The event also enjoys an excellent reputation among the professional golfers, thanks in no small part to the excellent conditions provided by organiser BMW. These include the course itself, which is always immaculately prepared, as well as the seamless organisation, popular evening events and player care, which includes the BMW shuttle service and test cars for the players.

OUTSTANDING CHAMPIONS.

BMW International Open Champions Azinger

PAUL AZINGER.

1990 | 1992

The second year of the BMW International Open produced the first play-off, in which Paul Azinger (USA) defeated defending champion David Feherty (NIR). “Zinger” also had to come through a play-off to win his second title two years later. Once again he emerged triumphant, making him the tournament’s record winner – together with Thomas Bjørn, Pablo Larrazábal and Henrik Stenson.

JOHN DALY.

2001
Rarely has anyone taken a course apart in the way John Daly did in 2001: the popular American secured victory at München Eichenried with a remarkable score of 27 under par. The record still stands to this day. “Big John” still enjoys his outings at the BMW International Open, where he is one of the real crowd pleasers.

MIGUEL ÁNGEL JIMÉNEZ.

2004
Miguel Ángel Jiménez is one of the most popular players at the BMW International Open – as he is wherever he plays. As such, his victory in 2004 was followed by great scenes of celebration. “The Mechanic” won the BMW Asian Open in the same year and the 2009 BMW PGA Championship, making him the only player with three different BMW titles to his name.

MARTIN KAMYER.

2008
The crowds had to wait 20 years for a first home-grown winner of this iconic German tournament in 2008. A 23-year-old Martin Kaymer provided local fans with a happy ending to a real thriller: the young German defeated Denmark’s Anders Hansen after a rollercoaster of a final round.

HENRIK STENSON.

2006 | 2016
Henrik Stenson's titles are exactly ten years apart. The Swede is one of the most "loyal" starters at the BMW International Open, feels very at home at this tournament and is one of the most popular crowd favourites. Accordingly, there is great rejoicing in 2016 over Stenson's second victory, which he only narrowly missed out on finishing in second place in the two previous years.

BMW INTERNATIONAL OPEN CHAMPIONS.

Year	Winner	Country
2023	Thriston LAWRENCE	South Africa
2022	Haotong LI	PR of China
2021	Viktor HOVLAND	Norway
2020	Tournament cancelled
2019	Andrea PAVAN	Italy
2018	Matt WALLACE	England
2017	Andrés ROMERO	Argentina
2016	Henrik STENSON	Sweden
2015	Pablo LARRAZÁBAL	Spain
2014	Fabrizio ZANOTTI	Paraguay
2013	Ernie ELS	South Africa
2012	Danny WILLETT	England
2011	Pablo LARRAZÁBAL	Spain
2010	David HORSEY	England
2009	Nick DOUGHERTY	England
2008	Martin KAYMER	Germany
2007	Niclas FASTH	Sweden
2006	Henrik STENSON	Sweden
2005	David HOWELL	England
2004	Miguel Ángel JIMÉNEZ	Spain
2003	Lee WESTWOOD	England
2002	Thomas BJØRN	Denmark
2001	John DALY	USA
2000	Thomas BJØRN	Denmark
1999	Colin MONTGOMERIE	Scotland
1998	Russell CLAYDON	England
1997	Robert KARLSSON	Sweden
1996	Marc FARRY	France
1995	Frank NOBILO	New Zealand
1994	Mark McNULTY	Zimbabwe
1993	Peter FOWLER	Australia
1992	Paul AZINGER	USA
1991	Sandy LYLE	Scotland
1990	Paul AZINGER	USA
1989	David FEHERTY	Northern Ireland