Two-time Masters champion joins the Munich field
On 2 November 2026, BMW officially confirmed that Bubba Watson will compete in the 2027 BMW International Open at Golfclub München Eichenried, near Munich. The programme for the 38th edition is scheduled for 26–30 May 2027. The 2012 and 2014 Masters champion will, according to the organiser, make his first appearance in an official tournament in Germany. Michael Hollick, the defending champion, has also confirmed his return.
The announcement matters for two reasons: Germany's only DP World Tour tournament has secured a prominent international name well in advance, while Watson will have an opportunity to compete in front of a German tour audience. A confirmed entry for one event does not, by itself, establish a permanent change in tour membership, an application for membership, or any prediction about Watson's 2027 playing schedule. BMW has not made those claims.
Why Watson brings more than two major titles
Watson's distinctive approach to golf combines length with deliberately shaped ball flights. He is associated with pronounced draws and fades rather than a conventional, straight-ball-only style; BMW highlights the visual spectacle of that approach in its announcement. Watson welcomed the tournament's tradition and the opportunity to visit Munich. Those are remarks about an upcoming event, not a claim to have played any 2027 rounds or achieved a result. Additional entrants may yet be announced.
A historical distinction deserves attention. BMW's description of this as Watson's first official tournament in Germany does not mean he has never appeared at a German golf event. A licensed archival photograph shows Watson at the 2012 Schüco Open at Golfclub Gut Kaden in Germany. That was a different event: the image is neither a photograph of the 2027 BMW International Open nor proof that he previously contested a ranked DP World Tour tournament in Germany. Conflating a golf appearance with an official tour start would distort the organiser's statement.
Hollick returns to defend a title won with an eagle
The other confirmed entrant is South African Michael Hollick, who claimed his first DP World Tour victory at the BMW International Open in July 2026. He needed an eagle on the 72nd hole to win. Following an aggressive tee shot, his second stroke found the green and he holed a putt from approximately six metres. That was an eagle on a par-5, not a hole-in-one. His defence will offer fans a direct link to one of the tournament's most memorable finishes.
The pairing of names gives the organisers two distinct stories: a two-time major winner with global recognition and a returning champion whose 2026 title was settled by one decisive putt. Neither has yet played a stroke in the 2027 event; there is no leaderboard or result to report.
A changed place in the calendar
The 2027 tournament moves several weeks earlier than the July 2026 edition. BMW's Munich event dates to 1989 and remains the German fixture on the DP World Tour calendar. An earlier slot changes travel and scheduling considerations, but its effects on the eventual full field cannot be established from the initial two player announcements alone.
Ticket sales have opened alongside the announcement, but the editorial news is the confirmed participation and the revised date, not a sales promotion. Starting times, the final field and competition results remain future information. Any later changes will require a new official confirmation.
Primary sources: BMW Group's November 2 announcement; BMW Golfsport tournament dates.
