Summer in Scotland, inside the Genesis Scottish Open / Entry List

DP World /PGA Tour : Genesis Scottish Open Entry List

The Rolex Series returns as we head to The Renaissance Club for the 8th time, par 70 7282yds, for the PGA TOUR co-sanctioned Genesis Scottish Open. 

Gotterup defends

Chris Gotterup showed calmness and quality to hold off Rory McIlroy by two shots and claim his first DP World Tour and Rolex Series title 12 months ago. That started a run of 4 wins on the PGA Tour culminating in the John Deere Classic last weekend. He has risen from relative obscurity to the world #7 in that time.

The 25-year-old shared the third-round lead with the World Number Two and the pair went toe-to-toe on Sunday. McIlroy led by one at the fifth but after a birdie at the eighth, he endured a barren run of ten straight pars to open the door for his American rival. 

Gotterup took full advantage with birdies at the eighth, tenth and 12th to open up a two-shot lead, only to bogey the 15th. However, he bounced back with a birdie at the next to re-establish his lead before parring his way home. 

"I just hung in there tight and tried to keep it together," he said. "Held it together really well and then it was so much fun out there. It's all hitting me. It's just so cool. I played really well this week, and I knew today was going to be tough. I hung in there like a champ and finished it off in style."

Global stars gather

Scotland's national open has long attracted a global field but since its co-sanctioning with the PGA TOUR in 2022 it has become a truly world-class spectacular. 

World Numbers One and Two Scottie Scheffler and Rory McIlroy (T2 T4 1st last 3 starts here) headline the field and they are joined by fellow reigning Major champions Rai (2020 winner) and Wyndham Clark. 

MacIntyre (2nd 2023, 1st 2024)  will once again be expected to lead the home charge, in a field that features 11 of the 12 Europeans who won the Ryder Cup at Bethpage last year. 

Race to Dubai Rankings leader Patrick Reed will be hoping to take a step closer to the year-long title while fellow challengers and multiple 2026 winners Eugenio Chacarra, Jayden Schaper and Casey Jarvis also tee it up. 

Five-time Major champion Brooks Koepka returns to the event for the first time in 11 years, with further Major winners in the field including Shane Lowry, Adam Scott, Gary Woodland, Francesco Molinari, Pádraig Harrington who just won the US Senior Open for the 3rd time, Brian Harman, Justin Thomas, J.J. Spaun and Schauffele.

Rolex Series returns

This week sees the second Rolex Series event of the season as the blue riband tournaments return on the DP World Tour. 

The first of the season saw Patrick Reed win the Hero Dubai Desert Classic and there will be further Rolex Series events at the BMW PGA Championship and DP World Tour Play-Offs with the Abu Dhabi Championship and DP World Tour Championship. 

The events bring enhanced prize money and points, with a prize fund of US$9,000,000 and 8,000 Race to Dubai points on offer. 

The Genesis Scottish Open has been part of the Rolex Series since the Series began in 2017 and since then has been won by Rafa Cabrera Bello, Brandon Stone, Bernd Wiesberger, Aaron Rai, Min Woo Lee, Xander Schauffele, McIlroy, Robert MacIntyre and Gotterup.

This season, the Championship layout at The Renaissance Club has been rerouted to build an exciting closing stretch for both players and fans. 

At the heart of the changes, the fan-favourite par three sixth hole, The Thistle, now becomes the 15th hole, flanked by two par-fours, the new 14th and 16th holes. To facilitate the change, the two nines are switching, with the final two holes on each nine remaining the same.

Major rewards on offer

There is entry into not one but two Major Championships on offer this week in East Lothian.

 If the victor is not already exempt, then they will not only receive the trophy but also an invitation to the 2027 Masters Tournament at Augusta National, with Gotterup the first player to take advantage of this new pathway last year. 

Scotland's national open has long provided routes into The Open Championship and this year is no different with it being the final event of the Open Qualifying Series. To earn a place at Royal Birkdale a player must make the cut and be one of the top three players not already exempt, with the Official World Golf Ranking used as a tie-breaker.

Closing Swing begins

The height of the golfing summer brings with it the start of the Closing Swing - the last of the five Global Swings that make up Phase One of the DP World Tour season. 

The ISCO Championship runs simultaneously to the Genesis Scottish Open before next week's Corales Puntacana Championship - The Open Championship does not count towards the Swing. 

There is then a three-week break before the Danish Golf Championship and Nexo Championship end Phase One. 

Whoever follows Schaper, Reed, Mikael Lindberg and Chacarra in becoming a 2026 Swing champion will earn entry into all events of Phase Two - the Back 9 -  and a US$200,000 bonus.

There is also a place at the BMW PGA Championship available for the highest-ranked player on the Swing not already exempt. 

The Back 9 then takes us through some of the Tour's most historic national opens and storied events before the top 70 on the Race to Dubai head to the UAE for the start of the Play-Offs.

europeantour.com

Bryan Angus (edit)

Paddy wins his 3rd US Senior Open...Final results

    USGA: US Senior Open Leaderboard Results

A brilliant 4-under-par 66 in Sunday's final round propelled Padraig Harrington to a record-tying third U.S. Senior Open title. (USGA/Jeff Haynes)

David Shefter USGA Staff

There is a reason why someone the caliber of Padraig Harrington had the golf chops to get himself inducted into the World Golf Hall of Fame. Under the biggest pressure in the most prestigious competitions, the experienced and affable Irishman just knows how to close.

That intestinal fortitude – and magnificent skill – was on full display in Sunday’s final round of the 46th U.S. Senior Open Championship at Scioto Country Club. Entering the day a stroke behind Stewart Cink, the hottest player on the PGA Tour Champions who was eyeing an unprecedented third consecutive senior major of 2026, all Harrington did was fire a 4-under 66 to successfully defend the title he captured a year ago at The Broadmoor.

His 72-hole total of 12-under 268 was four strokes ahead of Cink, who had a disappointing final round, shooting 1-over 71 after a bogey-free 64 in the third round. Harrington was the only player in the field to register sub-70 rounds all four days, and he achieved it without a single three-putt green.

U.S. Senior Open rookies 3rd George McNeill (71--274) and 4th Ian Poulter (67—275) .

Two-time U.S. Open champion Retief Goosen, qualifier Jamie Donaldson and Paul Stankowski shared 5th at -4 276. It was Stokowski's third consecutive top-10 finish.

Coupled with his 2022 victory at Saucon Valley Country Club, Harrington, 54, has now hoisted the Francis D. Ouimet Memorial Trophy three times, matching the late Miller Barber for the most in U.S. Senior Open history. He also is the fourth player to capture back-to-back titles, joining Barber (1984-85), Gary Player (1987-88) and Allen Doyle (2005-06).

“It's different, I've got to say,” said Harrington, whose first two Senior Open victories came in nail biters. “It feels great, but obviously there wasn't the drama that I know we normally provide down the stretch. That doesn't mean that I wasn't feeling it. I was really trying to stay in it, stay focused. I knew I had a nice lead which let me play to the middle of the greens, let me hit the shots.

“But I did hit some big shots coming on the way home to take all the stress out of it. I had a great week putting, which wow, golf is easier when you putt well.”

The day – and the championship – belonged to Harrington, a 2024 Hall-of-Fame inductee who registered three majors when he competed on the PGA and European tours. In the midst of playing eight consecutive weeks, the tenacious 54-year-old from Dublin was magical on the greens, ranking first in putting for the championship (1.64 per green). He tied for first in birdies (19) and tied for ninth in greens in regulation (52 of 72).

Now, he’ll look forward to defending his Senior Open title at Gleneagles in a few weeks as well as playing The Open Championship at Royal Birkdale. Next week, he drives up to northern Ohio for the Kaulig Companies Championship (Senior Players) at Firestone CC., in Akron.

Bryan Angus (edit)

Something about July for Chris Gotterup...John Deere Classic ... Final results

   PGA Tour : John Deere Classic Leaderboard Results

Last year at this time I was writing about a relative unknown American called Chris Gotterup who was giving Rory McIlroy all he could handle at the Renaissance Club in North Berwick for the Genesis Scottish Open.

In fact he beat Rory, and buoyed by his outstanding play went on to place 3rd at the Open Championship to round out his fortnight in the UK, and establish his credentials as a top player in the world, not just the PGA Tour.

On Sunday he was in the pack at the John Deere Classic 5 shots off the lead, but with his brother and family having had a great week in their rented house, he went out, happy and relaxed and shot -9 62 to take the clubhouse lead at -20.

They went over to the practice tee, waiting to see if they were in a playoff or 2nd, planning Chris's travel plans for his flight to Edinburgh, and the 5 hour time change and all that went with 2 brothers having a special week.

Meanwhile Ben Kohles, who needed a par to force a playoff handed it on a plate to Gotterup when he doubled bogeyed the 72nd after hitting it into the water and finished T3 -18.

Well he now has won 4 times in the last 12 months including the Sony and Phoenix Opens and has arrived already in Scotland to defend his title, where it all began last July.

Canadians

T46 Mac Hughes -9 72 67 70 66

T71 AJ Ewart  -3 67 72 70 72

Corey Conners and Nick Taylor are the only two Canadians in the Open Championship.

This week all the big boys are in North Berwick, Scotland for the Genesis Scottish Open.

The alternative event here is in Louisville Kentucky, called the ISCO Championship for all of the rank and file. 

You can expect too see Hughes, Ewart, Svensson. Silverman, Pendrith, Hadwin and Yellamaraju all playing if they qualify here this week.

Bryan Angus

Michael Hollick eagles to win BMW International Open....Final results

 DP World Tour : BMW International Open  Leaderboard Results

Michael Hollick eagled the last to snatch his maiden DP World Tour title and deny fellow South African Hennie Du Plessis at the 2026 BMW International Open.

The 39-year-old rookie shared the overnight lead heading into Sunday's final round and was briefly three shots behind his compatriot with two holes to play at Golfclub München Eichenried.

However, Du Plessis, who narrowly missed out on his first win at this level on three consecutive starts in Africa earlier this season, bogeyed the 17th and could only make par at the last to leave the door ajar for Hollick.

Hollick had bogeyed the 16th but made amends with a brilliant birdie at the penultimate hole before taking on a dangerous line off the final tee.

It paid dividends as he just avoided the water and then produced a stunning approach to 20 feet to set up the tournament-winning eagle putt, which he drained for a remarkable victory.

He finished at -18 after an eagle, six birdies and three bogeys in his closing 67, with Du Plessis' final-round 66 only good enough for second place as his wait for success continues.

Du Plessis opened up  some distance ahead of his compatriot with brilliant approaches into the 14th and 15th to complete a treble of birdies.

He was at -18, but Du Plessis was now three clear after Hollick made an untimely bogey at the 16th.

It was not plain sailing though as the leader had been in trouble at the par-three 17th and dropped a shot to slip back to -17.

Hollick produced a superb tee-shot at the penultimate hole and rolled in from six feet to halve the deficit, with Du Plessis looking nervous ahead.

After finding the fairway bunker with his tee-shot, Du Plessis two-putted for par and set a -17 target as Hollick teed off at the last.

He narrowly missed the water hazard with his tight line, but Hollick attacked the final pin to leave 20 feet for victory, which prompted wild celebrations as his ball found the cup.

Wiesberger was three shots further back in third at -14, Oihan Guillamondegui and Carlos Ortiz were in a T4 at -12 under and local favourite Thomas Rosenmuller also eagled the last to jump into solo sixth at -11.

Ashun Wu and Joaquin Niemann both carded 70 to finish in a T7 at -10, with Marco Penge, Joe Dean, Kiradech Aphibarnrat and Victor Perez one shot further back at -9.

europeantour.com

Bryan Angus (edit)

Cink bids for 3rd Senior Major title, ...US Senior Open 54 hole results, Canadians, Ames/ McLean

  USGA: US Senior Open LeaderboardTee Times

A bogey-free 66 by Stewart Cink has the 53-year-old Georgian in position to win a third consecutive senior major title. (USGA/Edward M. Pio Roda)

David Shefter USGA Staff..

Stewart Cink, who was edged by Padraig Harrington a year ago at The Broadmoor, will take a one-stroke lead over the affable Irishman going into Sunday’s final round, thanks to a championship-best-tying, bogey-free 6-under-par 64 for a 9-under total of 201. The 64 is the lowest round ever produced in a U.S. Senior Open at Scioto.

Despite a brilliant shot-making performance, especially on the back nine, Harrington bogeyed his final hole to shoot 66 (202).

Jimenez, who fired a 64 in last year’s final round for solo third, sits three behind after a third-round 67.

Meanwhile, the upstart McNeill, the 36-hole leader and U.S. Senior Open debutante who made just 2 of 12 cuts in majors and never broke 70 in five U.S. Open appearances, continued to stay close to the two senior stalwarts with a 1-under 69.

Darren Clarke, who matched Cink’s 64, moved up 36 spots into a share of fifth at 3-under 207 with Paul Stankowski (68).

Due to anticipated afternoon thunderstorms on Sunday, tee times are again being pushed up with competitors going off in threesomes, starting at 7:11 a.m. EDT. The final group will feature Cink, Harrington and McNeill and tee off at 8:45 a.m. Last year, Cink and Harrington were in the last twosome and barely finished before a thunderstorm rolled into Colorado Springs.

Scioto was doused with a brief rain shower shortly after Round 3 started, but the downpour peeled off, and heat and humidity were not quite as oppressive as the first two days.

“We've done it a number of times other than last year, and before the PGA Tour Champions,” said Cink of his duels with Harrington. “It does tend to give a little bit of a special flair about sort of head-to-head thing. But … George is only one shot back of Padraig. It's not a two-horse race at all. That would be naïve to think we could play like that.

“But to play Harrington, he's such a great player, and I've admired his game for so long, I think we both kind of bring good out of each other. I know I've heard him say that to the press. I know he probably thinks I don't read his press, but I've read it before. I agree. I like playing with him. And he's the ultimate competitor. He's never going to take a shot off, and I don't expect him to tomorrow, either. I'm going to have my hands full with him and all these other guys tomorrow, but mostly with Scioto and myself.”

EDIT >>>>>Canada's Stephen Ames 70 69 74 +3 has dropped out of contention T34 while Alan McLean who was born in Glasgow, raised in South Africa and lives in London Ontario is T44 74 68 73 +5

Mike Weir missed the cut at +7.

Bryan Angus (edit)

Glover, Hodges lead John Deere Classic, Canadian scores, 54 hole results

  PGA Tour : John Deere Classic Leaderboard  Tee Times

Canadians

T64 Mac Hughes -4 72 67 70

T64 AJ Ewart  -4 67 72 70

Neither are in contention for Sunday, the other 5 Canadians entered missed the cut. Corey Conners and Nick Taylor are in the field for the Open Championship.

Lucas Glover 69, Lee Hodges 67 lead the John Deere Classic at -16 after 54 holes. Glover now 46 will lose his exempt status for 2027 unless he makes it inside the top 100, had this to say.

"You know you are going to have to go low or you are not going to win. Everyone is going to be aggressive, so I've got to hit it a little better to reach the ultimate goal."

A well established veteran, Glover is more interested in still playing good competitive golf with the Senior circuit not far away than worrying about money, but winning is still the driving motivation since his last victory in 2023.

Zac Blair 67, Ben Kohles 66, and Jackson Suber 66 are closest at -15.

Seven of the top 11 have never won on the PGA Tour.

Bryan Angus

 

An Austrian, South African lead in Germany..54 hole results..

  DP World Tour : BMW International Open Tee Times Leaderboard

Bernd Wiesberger and Michael Hollick shared the third-round lead after negotiating tricky conditions at the 2026 BMW International Open.

Wiesberger and Hollick were among five players to temporarily top the leaderboard midway through Moving Day at Golfclub München Eichenried before the pair moved clear.

Hollick was the first to reach -13 for the tournament after three birdies by the tenth, only for Wiesberger to overcome an early bogey by carding six birdies in his 67 to reach the clubhouse T1 -13

His South African rival dropped at shot at the 11th but bounced back with a birdie at the 16th to sign for three-under 69 and join the Austrian at -13 under, one clear of Carlos Ortiz -12 in a contested leaderboard.

"It was good, I was quite patient all day," Wiesberger said. "All in all, felt quite solid and kept myself out of trouble for the most part, and if I didn't I scrambled well. I think 67 in these conditions is a pretty decent score."

Hollick said about co-leading : It's awesome, I'm doing something I never thought I was going to get the chance to do. Thirty-nine years old and living out my dream, can't ask for much more than that really."

Hennie Du Plessis birdied the last to join Rosenmuller in T4 at -11, while Frenchman Oihan Guillamondegui and England's Jack Senior were a shot adrift in a tie for sixth at -10.

One shot further back at -9  were Spaniard Manuel Elvira, South African Casey Jarvis, France's Jeong weon Ko and Marco Penge, on his first start since the U.S. PGA Championship due to bouts of vertigo and sinus issues following a viral infection in November.

europeantour.com

Bryan Angus (edit)

Stephen Ames T10 at US Senior Open in the heat at Scioto CC, Ohio....36 hole leaderboard

 USGA: US Senior Open LeaderboardTee Times

George McNeill had a hot putter on Friday at Scioto C.C., registering five birdies en route to a championship-best 66. (USGA/Edward M. Pio Roda)

David Shefter USGA staff

America is celebrating its 250th birthday on Saturday, but the way things transpired at sultry Scioto Country Club on Friday, the fireworks came a little early on another oppressive day in central Ohio, when it would have been quite acceptable for the field in the 46th U.S. Senior Open Championship to wilt in the 90-degree heat.

George McNeill, who never broke 70 in five U.S. Open starts, produced the biggest noise in Friday’s second round, posting a championship-best, 4-under-par 66 to accompany his opening-round 68. He owns a two-shot lead at -6 over defending champion Padraig Harrington 69 67 -4 who was among five competitors to shoot 67.

First-round co-leaders Stewart Cink and Charlie Wi, both of whom posted even-par 70s, are three back at T3 -3, 137 with 2016 co-runner-up Miguel Angel Jimenez (68).

A large group at 2-under 138 includes U.S. Senior Open debutantes Henrik Stenson (67), Ben Crane (70), Tommy Gainey (69) and Ian Poulter (69) along with Alex Cejka (69) and qualifier Chris Devlin (68)

Stephen Ames ( 70,69) is T10 a shot back at -1

The cut came at +4 144 with exactly 60 golfers – 59 professionals and one amateur – getting inside the number. Play was completed just as a storm was approaching the grounds.

McNeill only made 2 of 12 cuts in majors while competing on the PGA Tour, with his best finish a tie for 62nd in the 2012 PGA Championship. 

But he does have five top 10s in regular individual PGA Tour Champions events in 2026 and was the runner-up with partner and two-time U.S. Senior Open champion Kenny Perry at the American Family Insurance Championship.

“The course conditions are perfect, which helps. It's getting firm. It's getting fast, which is what the championship wants and needs, weather permitting obviously. We may have some weather coming in tomorrow, but we'll see. Overall, I hit it mostly where I was looking today, so that's good, and made a few putts.

Regarding the heat Henrik Stenson T6 71 67 -2 making a rare competitive golf appearance said ; “I will not step outside the AC (air conditioning) more today other than going to my car and from the car to the hotel. No, I think it's conserving energy. I'm not really going to become any better by spending another hour out in the heat. I'm playing with what I have this week and trying to do my best.” 

Due to forecasted late-afternoon weather, Round 3 tee times have been moved up with the first groups going off split tees at 7:26 a.m.

Bryan Angus (edit)

Hughes/ Ewart survive the cut at John Deere Classic...36 hole results, Saturday leaderboard/tee times

  PGA Tour : John Deere Classic Leaderboard  Tee Times

Canadians

T60 Mac Hughes -3 72 67

T60 AJ Ewart  -3 67 72

Hughes and Ewart are the only Canadians to survive the cut which fell at -3

T37  Taylor Pendrith +1 68 75 MC

T78 Adam Svensson -2 70 70 MC

T78  Sudarshan Yellamaraju -2 70 70 MC

T127 Ben Silverman +2 73 71 MC

T127 Adam Hadwin +2 73 71 MC

Lucas Glover now 46 and out of options at the end of this year, 63 65 -14 leads by 2 shots heading into the weekend at the hot sticky John Deere Classic as the entire NE part of USA and into southern Ontario and Quebec is trapped under this huge heat dome.

Lee Hodges 65 66 -12 is 2nd with Zac Blair 63 68 -11 3rd.

Jordan Spieth barely survived with a 69 -3 total made it the cut on the number.

Bryan Angus

South African veteran Du Plessis leads in Germany.....36 hole results

 DP World Tour : BMW International Open Tee Times Leaderboard

Hennie du Plessis made a closing eagle to claim the halfway lead on his own at the BMW International Open and boost his bid for a maiden DP World Tour title.

The South African held a share of the first-round lead after a flawless -8 64 but patience was all important in the early stages of his second round.

It wasn't until the 11th that he made his first birdie of the day, before a strong finish saw him card a 69 to reach -11  and hold a one-shot lead at Golfclub München Eichenried.

Countryman Michael Hollick, Mexico's Carlos Ortiz and England's Jack Senior are his closest challengers in Germany, where the final event of the DP World Tour's European Swing is taking place.

"I think I'm comfortable with my game," said Du Plessis. "I don't necessarily say I'm comfortable around this golf course. I think it's very demanding.

"You need to drive it well. Obviously putt well [too]. It's hard to say that I'm feeling comfortable. I think I'm just comfortable with my game at the moment.

"It's fun. I haven't been in contention since the Joburg Open and [Investec] SA Open, so it's been a good nine to ten weeks since that.

"I'm very excited to be in the mix. It's a pleasure to be in the mix on the DP World Tour, so I'm very happy and grateful."

DP World Tour rookie Hollick struggled in the early stages of his second round, bogeying two of his opening three holes.

From the fifth to the tenth, he mixed two birdies with two bogeys to sit at four under but six birdies across his final eight holes saw him come home in 31 to card a 68 to go along with his opening 66 and reach -10

Already at that mark was Ortiz, who playing in the first group of the day off the tenth tee, carded a second consecutive 67 that featured seven birdies and one bogey at the par three eighth.

Late in the day, Senior, who is without a top 20 to his name so far this season, surged into contention with a flawless 65 that featured an eagle at the par five sixth.

Brad Dalke, a junior prodigy turned YouTube golf star playing on a tournament invite this week, is in a four-way group at -9 alongside English duo Paul Waring and Joe Dean and France's Frederic Lacroix.

Just seven shots separate leader Du Plessis and those that made the cut at -4, who include home favourite Freddy Schott after a dramatic final-hole eagle.

Race to Dubai Rankings leader Patrick Reed, defending champion Daniel Brown and recent back-to-back winner on Tour Eugenio Chacarra are among those to miss the weekend.

europeantour.com

Bryan Angus (edit)

AJ Ewart leads Canadians at John Deere Classic...18 hole results

 PGA Tour : John Deere Classic Leaderboard  Tee Times

It will be a hot sticky day 34*c with the warm wind getting up to 21km/h SW this afternoon under partly cloudy skies in Silvis, Ilinois, for this years John Deere Classic.

There are 7 Canadians in the field, the last chance to book a spot in the upcoming 154th Open at Royal Birkdale in Southport England.

Corey Conners and Nick Taylor have already got their passports in order for the next two weeks in the UK, where the headlines are the Wimbledon fortnight, and England through to the final 16 against Mexico at FIFA 2026.

EDIT >>>>>>>> 2026/07/02

Americans Lucas Glover and Zac Blair went out early in cooler weather and smoother greens to shoot -8 63 for the 18 hole lead.

A shot behind veteran Zach Johnson, Lee Hodges and German Stephan Jaeger at 7 64.

Johnson, now 50, who has 10 years of exemption at the Open Championship, is skipping it, and this week's US Senior Open and the British Senior Open at Gleneagles, all very questionable decisions for a guy who has been a Ryder Cup captain.

Canadians

T21 AJ Ewart  -4 67

T37  Taylor Pendrith -3 68

T67 Adam Svensson -1 70

T67  Sudarshan Yellamaraju -1 70

T101 Mac Hughes +1 72

T123 Ben Silverman +2 73

T123 Adam Hadwin +2 73

Bryan Angus

Schaper and du Plessis lead, BMW International Open, Munich,..18 hole results

  DP World Tour : BMW International Open Tee Times Leaderboard

This week's BMW International Open is underway in sunny 26*c Munich, with a light breeze 8km/h W, ideal weather for the field including 12 Germans for the local to cheer for now that their beloved team has been ousted from FIFA 2026 after penalty kicks with Paraguay.

Two time winner this year, South African Jayden Schaper has an early lead at -6, with the late wave waiting to tee off.

For full live scoring click on my links above.

Bryan Angus

EDIT>>>>>> 2026/07/02

South African duo Jayden Schaper and Hennie du Plessis hold a share of the lead after a low-scoring opening round at the BMW International Open.

Among the morning wave of starters in Germany, both players carded matching bogey-free rounds of  -8 64 to set the early pace at Golfclub München Eichenried.

Countryman JC Ritchie was one shot further back -7 65 alongside Anthony Quayle as the Australian, playing in one of the last two groups of the day, birdied his final hole.

Schaper is one of the star performers this season on the DP World Tour, having won back-to-back titles in South Africa and Mauritius at the end of last year.

While he enjoyed three top-20 finishes in his first four starts of 2026, his form has since dipped and he missed the cut at both the US PGA Championship and U.S. Open.

But, coming off the back of a week off, victory at the final event of the European Swing for Schaper would see the 25-year-old become the first three-time winner on the 2026 Race to Dubai.

"I think just coming into the event, I know the course, I'm comfortable with it," said Schaper, who is fourth in the Race to Dubai Rankings "I've been here a couple of years now. I love the area, love the city, so it's always a week that I enjoy coming to."

"Just trying to play the next half straightforward, made a nice little birdie and had two really cool chip-ins on my front side.

He was soon joined by Du Plessis, who is on track for his career-best campaign so far on the DP World Tour after a strong burst of results on his home continent during the International Swing.

The 29-year-old made his Major Championship debut at the U.S. Open last month and admitted he has had to "get over a few nightmares" since his return from America.

There were certainly no signs of negative thoughts after a week away to practice on his game as he mixed six birdies with an eagle.

"Bummed that I didn't birdie the 18th, well the ninth, but it was a good, solid round," he said. Very happy with it. I think the experience [at Shinnecock] made me a better golfer for this week."

Quayle, who secured his playing privileges this season via the Challenger PGA Tour of Australasia last year, made five birdies on his back nine in a flawless 65.

English quartet Paul Waring, Ross Fisher, Dan Bradbury and Joe Dean are in a seven-strong group at -6 66 that also includes Scotland's Daniel Young, South Africa's Michael Hollick and American Davis Bryant.

Tournament invite Brad Dalke, is a former U.S. Amateur runner-up, opened with a -3 69 that featured just one bogey and he is alongside among others defending champion Daniel Brown.

Of the 156-player field, 107 are under par.

europeantour.com

Bryan Angus (edit)

7 Canadians in action in the heat at John Deere Classic...Thursday TEE TIMES

 PGA Tour : John Deere Classic Leaderboard  Tee Times

There are currently 3 Canadians qualified for the 154th Open Championship at Royal Birkdale in Southport England: Corey Conners, Mac Hughes and Nick Taylor.

However there are 7 of them at the last PGA Tour regular stop here in the 40*c / 95*f heat in Silvis, Illinois, John Deere Classic,  before the focus of men's pro golf shifts to the fortnight in the UK, Scotland for the Genesis Open at the Renaissance Club in North Berwick, before Royal Birkdale for the Open.

Canadians

8.24      Taylor Pendrith

8.46      Mac Hughes

9.19     AJ Ewart

12.50   Adam Svensson

12.50   Ben Silverman

1.12    *Sudarshan Yellamaraju 

2.07    *Adam Hadwin

NOTE >>>> While the focus moves to the UK after this week it is important to mention for players not making the trip, the PGA/DP World Tours schedule two alternative events.

July 9-12    ISCO Championship Hurstbourne CC, Louisville, Kentucky

July 16-19  Corales Puntacana Championship,  Resort Club, Dominican Republic

Bryan Angus

 

Inside the DP World Tour, BMW International Open .....Thursday TEE TIMES/ Leaderboard

 DP World Tour : BMW International Open Tee Times Leaderboard

The European Swing comes to a climax this week as the DP World Tour arrives in Germany. Here are your five things to know about the BMW International Open, as the nation deals with the National football team being ousted from the 2026 FIFA World Cup by Paraguay 4-3 on penalties.

Lots at stake in Swing finale

After five counting events in as many countries, the European Swing - the fourth and penultimate of the five Global Swings - draws to a close in Germany.

At the end of the event, the player who is top of the Swing standings will earn exemption into each of the Back 9 events from August onwards and a $US200,000 bonus.

With victories in the Netherlands and then last week in Italy over back-to-back starts, Eugenio Chacarra has control at the top of the standings. With 3,500 Race to Dubai Ranking points on offer, 585 of those for the winner this week, Japan's Kota Kaneko is the only player who can deny the Spaniard the Swing title. But the task is a tough one for Kaneko, who needs to win to stand a chance.

The top five, not otherwise exempt, from the Race to Dubai Rankings (within the top 20) come close of play get a spot into The 154th Open at Royal Birkdale in mid-July. Jayden Schaper, Andy Sullivan, Dan Bradbury, Lindell and Mikael Lindberg are in position to capitalise on this exemption.

Brown defends

Dan Brown will aim to do something never achieved before in the history of the BMW International Open: successfully defend the title. Last year, the Englishman won his second DP World Tour crown, carding a bogey-free final round of 66 as he fought off countryman Jordan Smith to win by two shots.

Becoming the eighth English winner of the tournament, he dedicated the victory to his late boyfriend. "I lost my boyfriend at home last weekend," said Brown. "I don't know what to say really, but that was for him. The last two days I've been thinking about him to try and take my mind off it, obviously try not to get too emotional in the process. I suppose he was there with me and it made it a lot easier."

The victory coupled with runner-up finishes in Bahrain and Spain last year saw him earn dual membership with the PGA TOUR, where his best result so far in his rookie season is a tie for 19th on his season debut in Hawaii. 

Off the course, he has made a big impression stateside with his relaxed approach to life on tour.

Inside the field

Headlined by Race to Dubai leader Patrick Reed, a strong global array of talent has assembled as players representing 31 nationalities are set to feature. The American is joined by this season's fellow two-time DP World Tour winners Schaper, Casey Jarvis and Chacarra in teeing it up. Reed is one of four Major champions on show, joined by fellow Green Jacket winners Danny Willett and Sergio Garcia along with Martin Kaymer.

From the returning dual DP World Tour and PGA TOUR member Rasmus Neergaard-Petersen, to emerging talent Yurav Premlall, there are 11 winners from this season in action. Freddy Schott is another with the home favourite one of 12 Germans in the field.

Marco Penge won three times last season and the Englishman makes a welcome return to competitive action, having been ruled out since the US PGA Championship due to a recurring issue with his ear, neck and nervous system since suffering a viral infection in November.

Event history

Founded in 1989, the BMW International Open has since been held annually with the exception of 2020 when the tournament was cancelled due to the Covid-19 pandemic.

From 1989 to 1993 and from 1997 to 2011 it was played at the Golfclub München Eichenried while from 1994 to 1996 it was held at St. Eurach Land-und-Golfclub. In 2012, 2014, 2016 and 2018, the event was played at Golf Club Gut Lärchenhof near Cologne, alternating with Golfclub München Eichenried, which has become the sole host annually since 2019.

Across the previous 36 editions, four players - Paul Azinger, Thomas Bjørn, Pablo Larrazábal and Henrik Stenson - are multiple winners, each winning the event twice.

There has only ever been one homegrown winner, coming in 2008 as Kaymer claimed the title on the event's 20th anniversary. 23 years and 177 days old at the time, he remains the youngest winner of the tournament.

Ernie Els is the oldest winner, having lifted the trophy when he was 43 years and 248 days in 2013.

The lowest 72-hole winning score is held by John Daly, who finished -27 at Golfclub München Eichenried in 2001.

europeantour.com

Bryan Angus (edit)