• Brown seals emotional BMW win in Munich

    Daniel Brown 6 Ju;y 2025 Richard Heathcote Getty Images
    Daniel Brown

    Dan Brown closed with a flawless six-under-par 66 to seal a two-shot victory at the BMW International Open on Sunday.

    The 30-year-old Englishman started the final round with a one-stroke lead and held his nerve during a gripping battle with compatriot Jordan Smith at Golfclub München Eichenried.

    Both players went bogey-free on the front nine, reaching 20 under with some sublime shot-making, but it was Brown’s steady finish that proved decisive as he ended on 22-under 266.

    Smith signed for a closing 67 to finish solo second on 20 under, his second straight runner-up finish at the event.

    Brown, who claimed his maiden DP World Tour title at the 2023 ISPS Handa World Invitational, became the sixth English winner of the 2025 Race to Dubai season. He revealed afterward that the win carried extra significance after the recent loss of a close friend.

    “A lot. The first one didn’t really sink in, but that one hit me straight away,” Brown said. “I lost a friend at home last weekend. That was for him.

    “I was trying not to get too emotional. Today felt like an out-of-body experience. With everything that happened, maybe he was with me and it made it a lot easier.”

    Spain’s David Puig made an early charge, going five under through his first six holes with three birdies and an eagle. He reached 15 under to join Smith in second place early on, while Brown’s opening birdie helped him stay two clear.

    Brown added a second birdie at the next and became the first player to reach 20 under with another at the 6th. Smith kept pace with birdies at the 4th, 5th and 7th, and joined Brown at the top with another at the 9th.

    Smith briefly stumbled with a bogey at the 10th, but bounced back at the 11th. Brown, meanwhile, edged ahead with a birdie at the 12th before Smith dropped shots at the 13th and 14th to fall three behind.

    The two-time DP World Tour winner responded with a birdie at the 15th, but Brown showed composure coming down the stretch. He reached the par-five 18th in two and tapped in for birdie to wrap up a composed final round and a second career win at this level.

    New Zealand’s Kazuma Kobori carded a tournament-low 64 to claim third place on 18 under. Dutchman Joost Luiten, American Davis Bryant and Norway’s Kristoffer Reitan – who secured top spot on the European Swing rankings – shared fourth on 16 under.

    Germany’s Matti Schmid, France’s Frederic Lacroix, England’s Laurie Canter and Italy’s Francesco Laporta completed the top 10 at 15 under.

    South Africa’s Brandon Stone closed with a two-under 70 to finish in a share of 14th place on 13 under.

    – Edited report from DP World Tour website

    Photo: Richard Heathcote/Getty Images

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