Lowdown: The European Tour heads for Germany this week and the BMW International Open at Golclub München Eichenried. David Horsey defends the title and home favourite Martin Kaymer will be one to watch. A number of players who teed it up in the US Open at Congressional last week have made the journey back to Europe to contest this event. Heading them will be Germany's Martin Kaymer. The World Number three finished tied for 39th in Maryland and has suffered a dip in form over recent weeks. He's hoping a return to a tournament where he secured victory in 2008 will re-ignite his season. "For me it is nice to be home for a week. It's nice to play at home in front of my friends and have the support of the Germans and give a little bit back," he said. The competition heads back to the Golfclub München Eichenried for the 15th consecutive season. The Kurt Rossknecht layout opened for play in 1989 and is a flat course protected mainly by its water hazards. The venue tends to produce low scoring. Last season England's David Horsey produced four great rounds to finish on a 72-hole total of 18-under-par, one clear of his countryman Ross Fisher. Since the tournament was first hosted in 1989, it has produced some notable champions including Paul Azinger, Sandy Lyle, Colin Montgomerie and Lee Westwood. Sergio Garcia is one of the European stars on the start sheet for this week. The Spaniard played some excellent golf last week at Congressional where he finished in a tie for seventh. He's producing the sort of tee to green form that has won him eight European Tour events but he's still struggling with the putter. If he can get the flat-stick going this week he's sure to contend. Venue: Golclub München Eichenried Date: Jun 23-26 Course stats: par 72, 7,073 yards Purse: €2,000,000 Winner: €333,330 Defending Champion: David Horsey (-18)
TV Coverage: Thursday 23 - Live on Sky Sports 1 from 10.30am Friday 24 - Live on Sky Sports 1 from 10.30am Saturday 25 - Live on Sky Sports 3 from 1.30pm Sunday 26 - Live on Sky Sports 2 from 12pm
Player Watch: Retief Goosen - The South African was 23rd last week in Washington and he has produced some good performances in this tournament in the past. Most recently, he was third here in 2009.
Matteo Manassero - The young Italian has proved himself to be one of the top peformers on the European Tour and currently sits 15th on the Race to Dubai. He already has a win to his credit in 2011 - the Maybank Malaysian Open - and he has finished in the top-10 in the two BMW-sponsored events already contested this season - the BMW PGA Championship and the BMW Italian Open.
Paul Casey - He hasn't been enjoying the most sparkling form of late and he'll be looking for a return to the sort of play that saw him win the Volvo Golf Champions at the start of the year. He's too good a player to disappear off the radar for long and this could be the week he bounces back.
Key hole: 16th. A risk and reward par four of just 319 yards. It's driveable but with water waiting short and right anything with a touch of cut on it will end up wet. If someone needs to make birdies on the last day they'll definitely have a go at it. Where Next? Golf Monthly: July Issue now on sale
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