Kearney leads BMW International Open

Niall Kearney is eager to grasp the opportunity to secure his first European Tour title after opening up a two shot lead going into the weekend at the 2021 BMW International Open.

The Irishman fired rounds of 65 and 68 at Golfclub München Eichenried to get to eleven-under-par and lead a chasing pack that includes two Ryder Cup hopefuls in World Number fourteen Viktor Hovland and eight-time European Tour winner Bernd Wiesberger, who played alongside European Ryder Cup Captain Pádraig Harrington over the first two rounds.
“I just feel really fresh. I’ve been home the last couple of weeks. Plenty of time to rest, I was travelling quite a bit prior to that, playing. It was great to get home, recharge and get back out," said Kearney.
"The course is fantastic, it suits my eye – old fashioned avenues and it’s quite tight off the tee. I’ve really enjoyed it."
Kearney recorded his first top ten at the Canary Islands Championship last month, and after a trio of missed cuts, the 33-year-old is back on form as he makes his BMW International Open debut.
Spaniard Jorge Campillo, Frenchman Adrien Saddier and Japan's Masahiro Kawamura are also amongst the group of players two shots off the lead at nine-under-par, with South African Shaun Norris and another Spanish native in Pablo Larrazábal one shot further back.

Local hero Martin Kaymer, his fellow Major winner Louis Oosthuizen, and German amateur Matthias Schmid are amongst a group of nine players at seven under par.
"I still struggled to get to the hole with the putter, that’s a little bit tricky still for me. At the end of the day, shooting 67 is always a good score," said Kaymer.
“If I can continue playing the way I have played, I have put myself into a great position, I just need to get the ball to the hole to make birdies."