Australia’s Peter Fowler can boast two unique aspects in competing in this week’s 25th anniversary BMW International Open in Munich.
Fowler, or ‘Chook’ as he is known more affectionately to his friends, is the only player competing this week to have contested the inaugural BMW International Open in 1989.
Secondly, the Auckland-based Fowler is, at 54-years of age, the oldest player competing this week in the Bavarian capital.
And Fowler upstaged some of his more fancied and younger opponents in easily making the halfway cut with a six under par total courtesy of scores of 67 and 71.
“It’s nice to be at six under par as know the golf course pretty well even though they have moved back a lot of the tees,” he said.
“Also with it being pretty hot the ball is flying a long way, so there’s plenty distance in my drives even though I might be behind about 30 yards the two other guys in my group.
Peter Fowler – the oldest player in this year’s BMW International Open and only one to have contested the inaugural event. (Photo – www.golfbytourmiss.com)
“But I have to say I was hoping Bernhard Langer would be in the field and then I wouldn’t be the oldest, so I’ll take being the oldest.
“I know Monty is 50 on Sunday and Jimenez is 49 but it was just great to come back here and be part of the 25th anniversary celebrations.”
Fowler was afforded an invitation to compete this week given also he captured the event in 1993 at the Golfplatz also in Munich that hosted the tournament for the five years.
On that October day 20 years ago, Fowler defeated two of the best players in Europe in German favourite Bernhard Langer and Welsh golfing wizard, Ian Woosnam.
Langer had been No. 1 in Europe in 1981 and 1984 and was Masters Champion in 1985 while Woosnam was European No. 1 in 1987 and 1990 and a year later in 1991 joined Langer as an Augusta National winner.
“I was playing really well in the event in 1993 and shot 67 the first day and then shot 67 the third day before playing the last round in the company of Joakim Haeggman,” said Fowler.
“I hit all the par fives in two that afternoon and only missed one green in regulation to shoot a 63 and beat two of the superstars at the time in Europe, in Woosie and Bernhard Langer.
Michael Ebner proudly displays Peter Fowler’s two round total of six under par. (Photo – www.golfbytourmiss.com)
“I remember also hitting the flag on the ninth to make an eagle so it was a great feeling winning the tournament.”
Six years later, Fowler then asked BMW a big favour and it was request honoured by BMW that Fowler’s never forgotten.
“BMW has been really good to me as I was off the European Tour for a time a while back, and I was competing in Asia when I got in contact with BMW and asked them if they would reimburse me for half the airfare from Singapore to Munich if I came back and played the tournament,” he recalled.
“That was back in 1999, and BMW agreed to the request as I could not have afforded to pay a full airfare at the time.
“They put me up in a hotel and then made the halfway cut.
“I was then in the bar of the hotel on Friday night having a beer with Sam Torrance, who was saying how great it was for him to see me. He asked how long I was over here in Europe and I said only the one week.
“I told Sam I would love to play the Johnnie Walker the following week and Sam said one of his sponsors was Johnnie Walker so he’s rung the tournament organiser at Gleneagles, and then next thing I know five minutes later I’m into the first-ever Johnnie Walker.
“So I went to Scotland and made the cut and knowing I was into the Gleneagles event, I rang up Christian Barras in Switzerland, who I know well, and he said all the invitations had been handed out but then Sergio Garcia was uncertain if he would play.
“Sergio then withdrew and I found myself also into the European Masters and I made the cut there, as well.”
Fowler’s good form in late 1999 prompted him to then enter the European Tour Q-School later that year. He secured the 15th Tour card for 2000 and played on the European Tour up until moving the Seniors Tour full time in 2011.
And Fowler capped his debut senior’s year with two victories winning the Bag Ragaz PGA Seniors Open and the Handa Senior Masters.
“So I owe a lot to BMW as it all happened for me here in Munich firstly being a part of the first BMW International Open and then also in winning the event four years later in 1993,” he said.
Now Fowler could be staring at creating another first and become the oldest-ever winner of a European Tour event and some five years older than Miguel Angel Jimenez captured last year’s UBS Hong Kong Open aged 49 years and 318 days.
“I just wrapped to be just four off the lead at this stage of proceedings because I didn’t play all that well last week,” he said.
“None I’ve got my game back and my putting’s coming back.”
And if BMW had not afforded Fowler and invitation to compete this year what would the Australian, with his 21-year old youngest daughter modelling in New York, be doing with himself this week.
“I would probably be playing a round of golf with my good friend, Ivan Lendl but I will save that to next week,” he said.
“Ivan and I have been good friends for a long while and he’s now coaching Andy Murray, so I’m looking forward also to being at Wimbledon ahead of competing in the British Seniors Open at Royal Birkdale.”
