As play got underway at the Porsche European Open, a weather delay did little to stop some excellent golf on day one.
Mandatory Credit: John David Mercer-USA TODAY Sports
As has become customary on the European Tour in recent weeks, weather delays caused problems as the Porsche European Open got underway with a near three-hour pause for heavy fog and poor visibility early on Thursday in Germany.
Considering the deluge of rain the course had absorbed in recent days, things could have been much worse though, and when play did resume at Golf Resort Bad Griesbach there was no shortage of good play.
In its second year at this particular venue, a respectable purse and a field that includes a number of high profile name seems like a lock to draw big crowds over the coming days.
An outstanding first round from Bernd Wiesberger certainly should do nothing to hurt interest. The Austrian picked up where he left off in his last start where he finished as a runner-up at the KLM Open.
Big names like Martin Kaymer, who will of course have big support from the home crowd, Thomas Pieters and Ernie Els were also in action although they’ll have to return early on Friday to complete their opening rounds.
What are the biggest stories and takeaways coming out of day one of the Porsche European Open though? Let’s take a look at three of the leading contenders.
Bernd Wiesberger Will Be Tough To Beat
After an outstanding 2015 season that saw the 30-year-old win the French Open and only lose the Irish Open in a playoff, 2016 has been solid but not as spectacular as the Austrian had surely expected.
With an excellent week at The Dutch for the KLM Open two weeks ago, Wiesberger threatened to change that coming in second only to Joost Luiten. Clearly buoyed by that impressive showing, Wiesberger took last week’s lucrative Italian Open off but came back reinvigorated for this event.
A double-bogey start may have initially made that appear to be a bad decision, but Wiesberger was unfazed and bouncing back with nine birdies and an eagle from there made for a thrilling 63. He’ll only grow ever more confident heading into Friday and is very much the man to beat now.
Graeme Storm Offers Strong Weekend Threat
Now 38 years of old, it’s been a long time since Graeme Storm last got his hands on a trophy on the European Tour. To be exact, it’s over nine years since the Englishman was a French Open winner, but if ever there was a venue where he could break that duck it could well be here.
Storm shot four rounds in the 60s here last year en route to a runner-up finish behind Thailand’s Thongchai Jaidee, and if Thursday was anything to go by, he’s brought his A-game to Germany again this year.
Storm ultimately went out in 67 strokes for an opening round of 67 which sounds impressive in its own right, but if it wasn’t for a double-bogey on the 18th it could have been so much better again. If Storm can get that late mistake out of his mind, he’s well-equipped to challenge here.
Big Names Face Battle To Make Cut
Although weather has stopped some of the more notable attendees at Bad Griesbach from having the kind of impact they were expected to make so far, the reality is there are a number of big names with a lot of work to do just to make the cut.
Three-time major champion Padraig Harrington battled with an injured wrist for a level-par 71, while although their rounds are only around the halfway point, the likes of Kaymer, Els and Colsaerts also sit in a tie for 98th on level par.
Most surprising of all, Ryder Cup bound Thomas Pieters, who looked like one of the hottest players on tour, struggled significantly on Thursday. The Belgian is two-over-par for his first nine holes and will be hoping to play much better on Friday.
Mandatory Credit: Michael Madrid-USA TODAY Sports
Porsche European Open – Day 1 Leaderboard
1 Bernd Wiesberger – 63 (-8)
2 Renato Paratore – 65 (-6)
T3 Steve Webster – 66 (-5)
T3 Michael Jonzon – 66 (-5)
T3 Lucas Bjerregaard – 66 (-5)
T3 Matthew Southgate – Thru 11 (-5)
T3 Daniel Im – 66 (-5)
Play will resume for the completion of round one and the second round action at 7.30am local time.
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