+++ Comments from Wednesday: "You will not experience a truer gentleman of the sport than Bernhard Langer" +++ All press conferences as video recordings for free use +++ Tee times for rounds 1 and 2+++
Munich. On Thursday, the sporting battle for the title at the 35th BMW International Open begins with the first round at the Golfclub München Eichenried. The man to beat is last year's winner Thriston Lawrence (RSA), who will face strong national and international competition. Special attention is on the German golf legend Bernhard Langer, who is making his last appearance on the DP World Tour. Below you will find comments from Wednesday, an overview of the top flights, and in the attachment, all tee times for the first and second rounds.
The complete press conferences as video recordings from all tournament days are available for free use at this link: https://b.mw/BIO2024
Langer starts his farewell tournament in a purely German flight together with Marcel Siem and the only German BMW International Open winner Martin Kaymer at 7:40 AM from Tee 10. Ten minutes later, the two-time tournament winner Pablo Larrazábal (ESP) and the two Masters champions Danny Willett (ENG) and Patrick Reed (USA) tee off there. At 8:10 AM, another two-time tournament winner, Thomas Bjørn (DEN), Andrew "Beef" Johnston (ENG), and Nacho Elvira (ESP) are up at Tee 10.
Lawrence begins the mission of defending his title together with the Belgian Thomas Pieters and Adrian Otaegui from Spain at 12:40 PM at the first tee. Crowd favorite Miguel Ángel Jimenez (ESP) goes ten minutes later with the German duo Matti Schmid and Yannik Paul. At 1:00 PM, also at Tee 1, Europe's Ryder Cup captain Luke Donald (ENG), Jesper Svensson (SWE), and the former "wonder boy", the resurgent Matteo Manassero (ITA), will tee off.
Comments from Wednesday.
Martin Kaymer: "My victory in 2008 was very beautiful and emotional. Winning in your home country is extremely special. It's a tournament that suits me very well. Being here in Munich and at the golf course gives me a certain calmness. I really enjoy playing this golf course. I've had good experiences here. The course looks very good. BMW has been doing this very well for 35 years now. You can also just rely on that, but to keep improving this routine is not easy and that's why it's also one of the best tournaments on the tour."
Thomas Bjørn: "Bernhard Langer has moved mountains for golfers around the world. Sometimes he doesn't get enough credit for how good he was. Sometimes he went a bit under the radar. But his records and what he has done is quite remarkable. I've played a lot of tournament golf with him, but also trained a lot with him, and he always made me feel welcome into his world. You will never meet a truer gentleman of the game than Bernhard Langer. He's an honour and a pleasure to be around. The man behind the great results impresses me the most and we should celebrate him this week because very few people in the game of golf have achieved what Bernhard has achieved."
Yannik Paul: "The tournament has a special significance for us because we don't often play at home. It's also something like the home event for us. Here, most friends and family will watch and playing in front of a home crowd, family, friends, and many other people is even more fun. That's why, apart from the majors, this is my favourite week of the year."
Jeremy Paul: "For many people, even outside of Germany, Bernhard Langer is an idol. The respect for him goes far beyond Germany because even at an older age, he has celebrated successes on the Champions Tour that no one has been able to emulate. We have many successful players in German golf - and for that, we are very grateful to him."
Miguel Ángel Jimenez: "Bernhard is an incredibly talented player, he has broken records, and he still plays beautiful golf. It's incredibly great to be here with him and be a part of this tournament."
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BMW AG 
