Michael Hollick wins BMW International Open in Munich with dramatic eagle on the 18th hole
Michael Hollick won the 2026 BMW International Open after one of the most memorable finishes of the season on the DP World Tour. The South African golfer finished the tournament at a total of 18 strokes under par, securing victory with an eagle on the final hole at Golfclub München Eichenried. According to the DP World Tour report, Hollick shot a 67 in the final round on Sunday, July 05, 2026, with an eagle, six birdies and three bogeys, which was enough for his first title at that level of competition. Hennie du Plessis, also from South Africa, finished second at -17, while Austria’s Bernd Wiesberger took third place at -14.
The outcome in Munich was extremely dramatic because du Plessis, according to the official report from the competition organizers on the DP World Tour, had a three-shot lead with only two holes remaining. A bogey on the 17th hole and a par on the final hole opened the door for Hollick, who, after his own bogey on the 16th hole, first responded with a birdie on the 17th and then took a risk from the final tee. His attack over the dangerous line near the water ended precisely enough to remain in play, after which his approach left him with a putt of approximately 20 feet for victory. When the ball dropped into the hole, the 39-year-old DP World Tour rookie turned the final stroke into the greatest moment of his professional career.
- Winner: Michael Hollick, South Africa, -18
- Second place: Hennie du Plessis, South Africa, -17
- Third place: Bernd Wiesberger, Austria, -14
- Location: Golfclub München Eichenried, Munich, Germany
- Competition: 2026 BMW International Open, DP World Tour
Risk on the final hole turned into a winning moment
Hollick’s finish was an example of how a golf tournament can change in just a few minutes. According to the DP World Tour, du Plessis created separation on the 14th and 15th holes with precise approaches and a series of birdies, while Hollick’s bogey on the 16th hole at that moment looked like the stroke that could decide the winner in favour of his compatriot. Still, Hollick hit an excellent tee shot on the par-three 17th hole and took advantage of the opportunity for birdie, reducing the deficit and putting the pressure back on the leading player. Du Plessis lost a stroke on the same stretch, so the final hole reopened the question of the winner.
On the 18th hole, Hollick, according to the DP World Tour’s description, chose an aggressive line and narrowly avoided the water hazard. Such a choice was not only a technical move but also a decision that defined the entire tournament, because it allowed him to attack the flag and leave himself a realistic putt for eagle. In a situation in which a birdie would probably have meant a play-off or at least additional pressure on du Plessis, Hollick holed the putt for an outright victory. The final stroke gave him a score of -18, one shot better than his nearest challenger, and a title that the DP World Tour described as his first crown on that tour.
For du Plessis, the finish carried a different weight. The official DP World Tour text recalled that he had already been close to a first victory at this level this season in three consecutive appearances in Africa, and the Munich outcome again brought him second place after he had controlled the finish. His 66 strokes in the final round was a result worthy of victory in many circumstances, but this time it was not enough because Hollick played a closing shot rarely seen in a title fight. Du Plessis nevertheless remained one of the main winners of the week in a broader competitive sense, especially because of his placing and points on the Race to Dubai ranking.
Hollick’s first victory on the DP World Tour
Hollick’s success is especially significant because of the stage of his career at which it arrived. The DP World Tour stated in the tournament preview and an earlier profile that the South African entered the season as a rookie, after finishing seventh in the 2025 Sunshine Tour ranking and thus earning the final available card for the DP World Tour. Before Munich, he had several notable results, including three top-ten finishes in his first appearances of the season, but he did not have a victory on the DP World Tour. That is precisely why the title at the BMW International Open represents more than a single tournament triumph: it changes the status of a player who, until that moment, had built his path through less exposed stages of professional golf.
The DP World Tour described him as a 39-year-old rookie who shared the lead with Wiesberger after the third round on Sunday. That detail further emphasizes how demanding the final day was, because Hollick not only had to chase a score but also withstand the rhythm of direct rivals. Wiesberger started from the same position, du Plessis quickly joined the battle, and the leaderboard changed several times during the round. On the first half of the round, Hollick took and lost the lead, and then over the final three holes he went from a serious deficit to celebration.
Victory in Munich also brought Hollick strong symbolic capital. The BMW International Open has a long tradition on the DP World Tour, and the official competition preview emphasized that it was the 37th edition of the tournament that BMW has organized since 1989. The same source states that no other tournament on the DP World Tour has been held for so long under the same name and with the same partner. In such a context, Hollick’s victory does not enter only the statistics of the season but also the list of winners of one of the most recognizable European tournaments in professional golf.
Wiesberger remained third, and the top of the leaderboard was separated by the finish
Bernd Wiesberger entered the final round as one of the leaders, but he failed to keep pace with the South African pair. According to the official DP World Tour report, both he and Hollick dropped shots in the early stage of the final round, which allowed du Plessis a quick return to the battle for the lead. Wiesberger briefly maintained pressure with birdies on the sixth and eighth holes, but a mistake on the ninth hole created a deficit that he later failed to make up. The Austrian finished the tournament alone in third place at a total of -14, three shots behind du Plessis and four behind the winner.
Behind the leading trio, the official ranking shows that Oihan Guillamoundeguy and Carlos Ortiz shared fourth place at -12. Thomas Rosenmüller, who was an important part of the local story at the tournament in Munich, finished sixth after an eagle on the final hole, the DP World Tour states. In the group behind him were Ashun Wu and Joaquín Niemann at -10, while Marco Penge, Joe Dean, Kiradech Aphibarnrat and Victor Perez finished one shot further back. Such a layout shows how much the finish around the 18th hole changed the impression of the tournament: from a possible safe celebration for du Plessis to Hollick’s sudden and complete turnaround.
The official DP World Tour leaderboard confirms that Hollick finished with a one-shot advantage, and precisely that difference best describes the nature of the tournament. In golf, one shot is often the result of several hours of small decisions, but in Munich it was connected with several very clear moments: du Plessis’s bogey on the 17th, Hollick’s birdie on the same hole and the winning eagle on the 18th hole. For that reason, the 2026 edition will be remembered for the final move, but also for the fact that the winner, over the final two holes played, made up a deficit that had looked almost decisive.
BMW International Open as a traditional stop in European golf
The 2026 BMW International Open was held from July 02 to 05 at Golfclub München Eichenried, according to the official DP World Tour website. The organizational framework of the competition was broader than the sporting result itself because it is one of the longest-standing partnerships in professional golf. The DP World Tour stated in its official preview that BMW has organized the tournament since 1989 and that this year’s edition was the 37th. It was also stated that the prize fund amounted to three million US dollars for the first time, with a winner’s cheque of 510,000 US dollars, which further emphasizes the competitive and financial weight of the tournament.
Golfclub München Eichenried describes itself on its official website as the home of the BMW International Open, and that course has been connected with the development of the tournament for decades. The club states that a special combination of courses is used for the competition, with a return to the old configuration, while otherwise it is a 27-hole complex. Such context is important for understanding the finish on the 18th hole, because Eichenried is not just a backdrop but a course with a long history of professional finishes, large grandstands and a specific atmosphere around the final green. Hollick’s victory thus came at a place that has an exceptionally recognizable status in German and European golf.
The tournament also closed the European segment of the season in which players compete for points, status and tickets to the biggest events. According to a separate DP World Tour announcement, after the BMW International Open, places were also confirmed for the 154th edition of The Open Championship at Royal Birkdale. Despite the painful defeat, du Plessis secured one of the available places as one of the highest-ranked players on the Race to Dubai ranking who had not yet been exempt. Wiesberger achieved the same, while Jayden Schaper, Andy Sullivan and Dan Bradbury were also listed among the qualifiers. This gave the Munich tournament additional importance beyond the fight for the winner’s trophy itself.
Consequences for the season and the rankings
Hollick’s title may have long-term consequences for his season because a first victory on the DP World Tour usually brings much more than a trophy. It confirms competitive belonging at the highest level of European professional golf, brings points on the Race to Dubai ranking and changes expectations ahead of the continuation of the season. According to the official DP World Tour profile, Hollick earned his status before this season through the Sunshine Tour, and already in the early stage of 2026 he showed that he could cope with stronger fields. Munich turned that impression into a final result, and against rivals who in the closing stretch looked equally or even more stable.
For du Plessis, the defeat is painful in sporting terms, but it does not erase the fact that he was once again in direct contention for a title. The DP World Tour emphasized that his runner-up finish was enough to secure a place at The Open Championship, which gives him a concrete continuation of the season on the major stage. His performance in Munich showed the ability to build an advantage through precise approaches and birdie runs, but also how difficult it is to close a tournament when pressure, course hazards and an opponent’s attack combine on the final holes. Wiesberger’s third-place finish, along with qualification for Royal Birkdale according to the DP World Tour, also represents an important result in his season.
For spectators and the wider golf public, the 2026 BMW International Open offered a finish that combined competitive tension and a clear sporting story. One rookie in the later stage of his career, one player still waiting for a first title at this level and one experienced Austrian winner near the top of the leaderboard created enough layers for a tournament that will long be associated with the final hole. But the official result remains simple: Michael Hollick finished at -18, Hennie du Plessis at -17 and Bernd Wiesberger at -14. Everything else in Munich underlined how quickly both the leaderboard and a career story can change in golf.
Sources:
- DP World Tour – report on Michael Hollick’s victory and the outcome of the final round of the 2026 BMW International Open. (link)
- DP World Tour – official leaderboard of the 2026 BMW International Open tournament. (link)
- DP World Tour – confirmation of places for The Open Championship after the BMW International Open. (link)
- DP World Tour – official preview and context of the 37th edition of the BMW International Open. (link)
- Golfclub München Eichenried – information on hosting, history and course configuration for the BMW International Open. (link)