Munich Magic: Wiesberger and Hollick Set Up BMW International Open Showdown
Where Experience Meets Late-Blooming Dreams
There's something particularly compelling about Golfclub München Eichenried when the Bavarian wind decides to make itself known. The course, which has hosted the BMW International Open since 1989, transforms from a scoring opportunity into something far more demanding—the kind of examination that separates those who belong at the top from those merely visiting.
After Saturday's third round, two men from vastly different chapters of their golfing lives find themselves sharing that rarefied air at 13-under par. Bernd Wiesberger, the elegant Austrian with nine DP World Tour victories already inscribed on his résumé, stands alongside Michael Hollick, a 39-year-old South African experiencing his rookie season on tour. It's the kind of pairing that reminds us why we fall in love with this game in the first place.
The Austrian's Masterclass in Patience
Wiesberger's five-under 67 was a clinic in course management under duress. The conditions had shifted dramatically from earlier in the week—firmer surfaces, dried-out greens, and pin positions that punished anything less than precise approaches.
"It was good, I was quite patient all day," Wiesberger reflected afterward. "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."
That understated assessment tells you everything about the man. After dropping a shot early, he responded with six birdies—the kind of measured aggression that comes only from years of competing at the highest level. A second victory of 2026 awaits if he can maintain that composure through Sunday's finale.
A Rookie's Dream Realized
Then there's Hollick, whose story reads like something from a golf novelist's imagination. At 39, most players are contemplating the senior tours or coaching positions. Hollick is instead living out something he "never thought I was going to get the chance to do."
His three-under 69 included three birdies through ten holes that briefly gave him sole possession of the lead. A bogey at the 11th could have rattled a less determined competitor, but he responded with a birdie at the 16th to join Wiesberger at the summit.
"Thirty-nine years old and living out my dream, can't ask for much more than that really," he said, the kind of genuine joy that makes you want to stand up and applaud through your television screen.
A Five-Way Traffic Jam
The middle portion of Saturday's round produced the kind of leaderboard chaos that makes tournament golf so addictive. After overnight leader Hennie du Plessis dropped a shot at the second, the door swung wide open.
Thomas Rosenmüller charged from deep in the field to reach 11-under. Hollick joined him with a birdie at the sixth. Carlos Ortiz—who now sits just one back in third—matched them moments later. Wiesberger's birdie at the 13th created further congestion, and then Joe Dean holed out for eagle at the ninth to produce a remarkable five-way tie for the lead.
By day's end, the field had sorted itself, but not by much. The final round promises the kind of tension that makes sponsors very, very happy.
Weather Adds Another Variable
Sunday's finale will look different than originally planned. Organisers have confirmed an adjusted schedule due to thunderstorm warnings, implementing a two-tee start in groups of three beginning at 8:10 a.m. local time. The leaders will set off at 10:00 a.m., racing to complete their rounds before the Bavarian skies potentially open up.
There's something almost poetic about it—two men chasing the same trophy under threatening clouds, one seeking validation of his veteran status, the other proof that dreams don't come with expiration dates.
Key Takeaways
- Wiesberger's experience showed with a patient 67 despite challenging conditions and firmer greens
- Hollick's remarkable rookie season continues with a chance to win at 39 years old
- Carlos Ortiz lurks just one shot back, making this a three-horse race
- Weather will be a factor with an early two-tee start scheduled to beat incoming storms