Dustin Johnson got a super taste of life on the European Tour when he joined fellow BMW International Open competitors at the now annual ‘Player’s Night’.
But for this year players, caddies, officials and friends were asked to dress up in traditional Bavarian attire.
BMW and Hugo Boss handed out the attire and everyone, well nearly everyone, responded by warming to the theme of the evening.
Johnson’s on a first ever visit to Germany and was given the honour of ‘tapping’ open a new keg of Munich’s famed Paulaner beer (See picture).
“It was a fun night and I really enjoyed it,” said Johnson after carding a third round 71 to move to four under par.
Others to get ‘dressed-up’ including French stars Raphael Jacquelin and Thomas Levet along with the Spanish contingent of Sergio Garcia, Pablo Martin, Alejandro Canizares and Rafael Cabrera-Bello.
Also former BMW International Open champ Paul Casey along with this year’s joint second round leader, Henrik Stenson arrived wearing the leather lederhosen’s.
However one notable omission was 1999 BMW International Open winner, Colin Montgomerie despite BMW’s Marco Kaussler presenting Monty with his own lederhosen following his opening.
Monty arrived wearing a suit without a tie that disappointed many who were keen to see the Scot get dressed-up for the night.
“No, that it (lederhosen) is all wrapped up and in my suitcase and that’s where it’s staying,” Monty joked after posting a third round 68 to move to six under par.
But Monty thrilled fans down the 18th after having to take a penalty drop in finding trees with his second shot.
There had been much deliberation before Monty played a superb 9-iron over the corner of a corporate enclosure to land the ball 20 feet from the hole.
Monty then had to call spectators in front of him to stop moving and then gestured to those in the corporate enclosure with his hand up in a ‘stop’ manner to cease rattling plates and clinking glasses before rolling in the par putt.
“I had 257-yards to the green there at 18 and I thought I could get there but I pulled my 3-wood straight left into trees and the ball bounced into a bush, and I then had to take a penalty drop,” he said.
“I then hit a 9-iron onto the green (smiling) and holed it for a five.
“So it was quite an adventurous par for me and for someone who has not really plays golf adventurous but that was.
“But the game is very close and it’s just that today I putted well without much success.”
Monty’s goal, aside from Tour Victory No. 32 is to qualify for next month’s Open Championship at Royal St. George’s.
He’s played the last two Open at Royal St. George’s and will be looking be among the top two finishers at next week’s French Open who are not otherwise exempt into the July 14th starting championship.
* All Photos with the compliments of BMW.
Dustin Johnson cracks open a new keg of Paulaner at BMW Players Night
Double Augusta winning Bernhard Langer with Dustin Johnson.
