In the lush fairways of Golfclub München Eichenried, Ewen Ferguson dazzled the crowds with a masterclass in precision and poise, seizing the lead at the BMW International Open.
As Ferguson surged ahead, the tournament also marked a poignant moment—the retirement of the legendary Bernhard Langer from the DP World Tour.
Ferguson, hailing from Scotland, delivered an astounding performance, sprinkling his round with eight birdies and capping it off with an eagle.
His remarkable eight-under 64 on the second day propelled him to a commanding 13-under-par total.
Hot on his heels was France’s Romain Langasque, who also turned heads with a stellar seven-under 65, placing him two strokes behind Ferguson.
The 27-year-old Scot started the day with a flurry, nabbing four birdies in the opening six holes, which vaulted him to the leaderboard’s zenith.
However, a precarious moment unfolded at the 16th—a challenging par four—where a double bogey momentarily threatened his ascent.
Unfazed, Ferguson clawed back with a 17-foot eagle putt at the 18th, his ninth hole, to round off the front nine at four under.
His back nine was no less dramatic, highlighted by a streak of three consecutive birdies starting at the fifth hole, solidifying his position at the top as play concluded for the day.
Ewen Ferguson: “That was great golf, I played so well. I was actually playing so well I started hitting it a bit further and on 16, I hit it too far into the middle of the bunker, spun it back and made double and I was thinking there’s no point getting that angry because I’m swinging it so well and the putter felt good.
“You get days where you feel like everything goes your way. I hit a couple of bad putts that caught the lip and went in, that’s just how it works out sometimes. It’s nice.”
Meanwhile, Langasque remained within striking distance, his impressive scorecard placing him solidly in second.
Not far behind, a contingent comprising David Micheluzzi, Patrick Reed, Jordan Smith, Matthew Southgate, and Bernd Wiesberger shared third place, each carding eight under par.
The day was equally memorable for its farewells as Bernhard Langer, a stalwart of the sport and a beacon for German golf, made his final bow.
Bernhard Langer: “It’s hard to put into words. It’s kind of been a dream come true for me, growing up in a village of 800 people where nobody knew what golf was.
“When I told my classmates that I was going to play golf they thought I was crazy, they thought I was a mini-golfer. People had no idea, it was really a strange situation.
“Even when I finished school and I tried to become a golf professional people didn’t even know what that was, it didn’t even exist as a profession in a way. So it was very difficult and complicated but it was my dream.
“I was able to live that dream for 50 years.”
Despite a heroic attempt with a driver off the deck on the 18th in search of an eagle, his journey ended in the waterside hazard.
Nonetheless, he salvaged a par, exiting to the warm embraces and heartfelt applause of friends, family, and fans, celebrating an illustrious career that has left an indelible mark on the game.
As the skies threaten with adverse weather, the tournament’s organisers have opted for a two-tee start in the upcoming round, setting the stage for a thrilling continuation of the BMW International Open.
