Siem: “The most important week of my year”

Marcel Siem has declared the 37th BMW International Open the most important week of his year, vowing to keep competing until he wins his home tournament. The German golfer, playing in front of a large gallery at Golfclub München Eichenried, admitted frustration with his opening-round score and shot distance but remains undeterred. “I’ll keep coming back until I win this tournament – even if I have to do it with a walking stick,” Siem told reporters.

“Now it’s straight to the driving range until my fingers are sore, and then I’ll come out tomorrow ready to attack.” The tournament’s first round saw three South Africans—Jayden Schaper, Hennie Du Plessis (both -8), and JC Ritchie (-7, tied 3rd)—top the leaderboard, while Germans Matti Schmid and Thomas Rosenmüller (-3) led the home contingent. Australian Antony Quayle (-7, tied 3rd) matched Ritchie’s score in the afternoon session. Around 20 players, including Chilean debutant Joaquín Niemann (68, -4), finished tied on -4.

The BMW International Open’s “EAGLES FOR EDUCATION” initiative, supporting the Philipp Lahm Foundation, has already seen 25 eagles scored, with the BMW Group donating €1,000 per eagle to the foundation’s summer camps. The tournament also features the Hole-in-One Award: a new BMW X5 M60e xDrive plug-in hybrid, which debuted at the BMW Group Plant Spartanburg and is being showcased in Germany for the first time. The BMW International Open continues with Round 2 tee times on Friday.