At 5:32 p.m., history was made at the Golfclub München Eichenried as Bernhard Langer, one of Germany’s most celebrated athletes, concluded his remarkable golfing journey. With a par putt on the 18th green, Langer marked his 513th start on the DP World Tour and bid farewell to competitive play. The 67-year-old legend received a heartfelt tribute from thousands of spectators, who waved Bavarian flags and offered minutes-long standing ovations.
Langer, a two-time Masters winner, reflected on the emotional day: “The start was already great. The first tee-off was incredibly moving, with people lining the fairways. As Marcel, Martin, and I walked down the first hole, it was a fantastic scene. The 18th green was equally memorable, with Bavarian flags and enthusiastic cheers. I’ve never experienced anything like it.”
The Golfclub München Eichenried welcomed 15,000 visitors on Friday, not only to witness Langer’s farewell but also to enjoy outstanding golf. Ewen Ferguson stole the spotlight, carding a brilliant 64 to take the lead at 13 under par. He leads by two strokes over Romain Langasque (FRA), while Bernd Wiesberger (AUT), Patrick Reed (USA), David Micheluzzi (AUS), and Englishmen Matthew Southgate and Jordan Smith share third place at 8 under.
Langer played alongside Marcel Siem (-2, T66) and Martin Kaymer (-3, T48) over the past two days. Kaymer, the only German to win the BMW International Open (2008), made the cut, but Siem missed out by just one stroke.
“Playing with Martin and Marcel was the icing on the cake,” Langer said. “It was a great experience for us—the three best German golfers together for the last two rounds. It was a lot of fun.”
Other German players to watch include Matti Schmid (-5, T24), Jannik de Bruyn (-4, T33), Jeremy Paul, and Freddy Schott (both -3, T48).
Thomas Bjørn (DEN), a two-time tournament winner (2000 & 2002), is tied for 8th place at 137 strokes (-7). Crowd favorite Andrew “Beef” Johnston and 2022 BMW International Open Champion Li Haotong (CHN) share the same position. Unfortunately, defending champion Thriston Lawrence (RSA, -1, T80) did not make the cut.
The BMW Group continues its charitable tradition during the tournament. For every eagle recorded this week, 1,000 euros will be donated to JOBLINGE and Kick ins Leben, organisations dedicated to educational equity and opportunities for young people. With 16 eagles on Thursday and 23 more on Friday the donation sum has already reached 39,000 euros.
Due to a storm warning for Saturday afternoon, the third round will begin in three-player flights from Tee 1 and Tee 10, starting at 7:40 a.m. The leader’s group tees off at 9:30 a.m., aiming to finish by 2:30 p.m.
As Bernhard Langer takes his final bow, the Golfclub München Eichenried remains abuzz with excitement, celebrating a true golfing icon and the spirit of the sport.
