Reigning Open champion, Ernie Els, led from start to finish at the 25th edition of the BMW International Open and earned his 28th European Tour title by posting a final round of 69 to win by a shot on 18 under par.
Els, 43, became the oldest-ever winner of the event and the first South African to do so. He began the day in a share of the lead with Swede Alexander Noren and Frenchman Alexander Levy, and played a solid, yet uneventful is final round of 69 that included four birdies and a bogey.
It was Els, third consecutive round of 69 after opening with a blitzing 63 on Thursday that basically gave him the cushion to play catch-me-if-you-can from there on.
He surely knows how to win wire-to-wire. This was his seventh win in such fashion in his European Tour career. He also became the third wire-to-wire winner of the BMW International Open, following David Feherty (1989) and Sandy Lyle (1991).
For Els, this win should be boost ahead of the defense of his Open title at Muirfield from July 18th. This is his first victory in the BMW International Open in his sixth appearance.
Denmark's Thomas Bjorn, winner of the event 13 years ago, also fired a 69 to finish runner-up on 17 under. He and Els had both been on 17 under with six holes remaining with Levy a shot further back. But was left to count the costs of a 14th-hole double bogey which ended his hopes
Finishing third at 16-under was Levy, whose four bogeys on the back-nine were his demise on Sunday. He did close the tournament out with a birdie, giving him solo third-place, the best result of his up-and-coming European Tour career.
In a three-way T-4th finish were Noren, Bernd Wiesberger and local favorite Martin Kaymer. Noren had three bogeys on the first 11 holes before rallying with four birdies—and a bogey—on his last seven holes to get to 15-under.
Wiesberger made a bogey on 13th, but then birdied four of his last five holes to finish with a flurry and join the T-4th place group. Kaymer also finished strong with birdies on 16th and 18th to cap his solid outing in Munich.
Sergio Garcia (14-under) finished in a T-7th with China’s Wen-yi Huang and South African Darren Fichardt. Garcia had the lowest round (65) on Saturday along with Björn, but could only shoot 69 on Sunday keeping him four shots from the winner.
Other notables finishes: former champ Henrik Stenson, Marcel Siem, Joost Luiten and Peter Uihlein (T-10th, 13-under), Dustin Johnson and defending champ Danny Willett (T-18th, 12-under) and Matteo Manassero (T-22nd, 11-under).