25th BMW International Open: Top Stars Confirmed For Anniversary Tournament. Major winners, Ryder Cup heroes and a big-hitting American: Golfclub München Eichenried welcomes a high-class field.

Munich. Only at the BMW International Open can golf fans in Germany experience world-class pros in action live. The provisional “guest list” for the 25th anniversary tournament is already looking impressive: big-hitting American Dustin Johnson, reigning British Open champion Ernie Els of South Africa, two of the Ryder Cup heroes from the Miracle of Medinah, in the form of Sergio García and BMW Brand Ambassador Martin Kaymer, will head the field at the 25th BMW International Open. This was announced by Tournament Director Marco Kaussler today at the official press conference in the BMW Museum in Munich. The only European Tour event on German soil will take place from 18th to 23rd June at Golfclub München Eichenried.

American Dustin Johnson, who is otherwise rarely seen playing in Europe, was only too happy to accept the invitation to the anniversary of the BMW International Open. The 28-year-old from South Carolina won the 2010 BMW Championship, which forms part of the PGA TOUR Playoffs, and has already caught the eye this year with victory at the Tournament of Champions in Hawaii. Johnson - “DJ” for short – also knows how to attract attention away from the golf course: he is currently in a relationship with model Paulina Gretzky – the daughter of ice hockey legend Wayne Gretzky.

When South African Ernie Els won last year’s British Open, the 42-year-old showed everyone that he is still a force to be reckoned with with a golf club in his hand. Over the course of his illustrious career, Els so far has four Majors to his name – two US Opens and two British Opens – and has triumphed at important tournaments all over the world, including the BMW Asian Open in 2005. However, there is still one title missing: the BMW International Open. The best result so far for “The Big Easy” came back in 2000, when he finished fifth.

Although only 33, Sergio García is already a living golfing legend. The Spaniard has already spent more than 300 weeks in the top ten of the world rankings. On three occasions he narrowly missed out on winning a Major, instead having to settle for a hat-trick of second places. One of García’s greatest moments came at the 1999 PGA Championship in Medinah (Illinois) when, having only recently turned pro, he came up just one shot short of beating Tiger Woods in a thrilling duel. Medinah is also the site of one of the Real Madrid fan’s biggest triumphs: last year he was a member of the European Ryder Cup team that produced an incredible comeback to defeat the USA on the final day. Fans in Munich also have fine memories of “El Niño”: in 2011, he and his compatriot and eventual winner Pablo Larrazábal were involved in a thrilling five-hole play-off – the longest in the history of the tournament.

It goes without saying that BMW Brand Ambassador Martin Kaymer will be in action again this summer. It is now five years since Germany’s top golfer won the 20th BMW International Open. That victory remains the only time a home player has won the only European Tour tournament on German soil. Maybe the 28-year-old can repeat that fairy-tale summer of 2008 – the omens are good: as in 2008, the BMW International Open will mark its anniversary with a glittering birthday celebration. Whatever happens, Kaymer, whose putt to secure victory in Medinah made him a Ryder Cup hero in 2012, is very much looking forward to his home tournament.