Michael Hollick’s 20-foot eagle putt seals stunning BMW International Open victory

South Africa’s Michael Hollick produced a dramatic birdie-eagle finish, capped by a nerveless 20-foot putt on the 18th green, to claim his first DP World Tour title in his rookie season at the prestigious BMW International Open at Golfclub München Eichenried.

In a final round defined by momentum swings, Hollick overturned a two-shot deficit down the closing stretch to edge compatriot Hennie du Plessis by a single stroke, signing for a closing 67 to finish on 18-under-par.

The victory marks a defining breakthrough for the 39-year-old, who arrived in Germany still searching for his first win on the DP World Tour. 

Instead, he leaves as a champion after a composed and explosive finish under immense pressure.

Hollick’s round looked to be slipping away on the par-4 16th, where a costly bogey dropped him two shots behind du Plessis. 

In a tournament where margins were razor-thin, it felt like a decisive moment had gone against him.

But Hollick responded immediately on the par-3 17th. 

With everything on the line, he fired a precise iron to just five feet and rolled in the birdie putt to keep his hopes alive. 

At that point, the pressure shifted firmly onto his compatriot ahead.

du Plessis, who had looked in total control of the tournament on the back nine, had already stumbled on the 17th with a bogey to take a one-shot lead down the par-5 18th. 

But he would let things slip on what proved to be one of the easiest holes all week.

du Plessis could only make par as he set the clubhouse target of 17-under par. 

With the door left ajar, Hollick, standing on the tee at the 18th just one shot behind, knew exactly what was required.

Birdie for a playoff, and eagle for glory.

The par-5 closing hole at Golfclub München Eichenried offers risk and reward in equal measure, and Hollick committed fully. 

He narrowly carried the water down the left side, but his drive still finished in the rough — leaving a demanding second shot under championship pressure.

What followed was the shot of his career.

From the rough, Hollick struck a towering approach that tracked beautifully towards the flag, finishing just 20 feet beyond the hole. 

It was an aggressive, controlled strike when anything less than perfect could have ended his chances.

Then came the putt.

With the tournament on the line, Hollick delivered the decisive moment — rolling in the 20-footer for eagle to move to 18-under-par and seal a one-shot victory. 

The reaction was immediate relief, disbelief, and joy as he realised he had completed one of the most dramatic finishes of the season.

Watch Hollick's magic moment here: 

For Hollick, the victory is not just a single-week success — it is the culmination of years of persistence and reinvention.

Having turned professional in 2012, he spent much of his early career on the Sunshine Tour, struggling for consistency and failing to break into the upper tiers of the game for long stretches. 

At one point, he even stepped away from full competitive golf, spending time coaching before returning to tournament play.

His resurgence began in earnest with a win at the Zimbabwe Open in 2024, followed by further victories that rebuilt his confidence and competitive edge. 

That momentum has now carried him to his first DP World Tour triumph in what is his rookie season at this level in 2026.

This week, however, had not suggested what was to come for the World No.348. 

Hollick had missed nine cuts around the world in 2026 and managed just one top-30 finish heading into Munich, at the KLM Open. 

But elite golf often turns on moments — and Hollick delivered his when it mattered most.

Speaking to Sky Sports Golf on the 18th green, Hollick reflected on the composure that carried him through the most intense moments of his career.

“I was actually very calm all day and stuck to the same stuff I’d done all week,” said Hollick, who collects the biggest prize of his career ($510,000). 

“It’s easy to start thinking too far ahead, and I just brought myself back. I told my caddie if I had a chance to win on the back nine, that’s all I wanted.”

The South African admitted that his bogey on the short par-4 16th had felt like a decisive setback at the time.

“After 16, I felt like I was probably too far behind to win it,” he added. 

“But I hit two perfect 5-irons on 17 and 18, I could not have asked for any more.”

Looking ahead, Hollick’s victory opens immediate new doors. 

The win secures his place in next week’s Genesis Scottish Open and he had already come through a qualifier to compete in The Open at Royal Birkdale the following week. 

“It’s amazing, honestly,” he said. “Just giving myself and my family such an opportunity. I’m really looking forward to it.”

Hollick’s story is one of perseverance. 

There were seasons where progress felt stalled, and even periods where he considered stepping away from playing altogether. 

Yet the decision to return full-time proved pivotal.

Reflecting on his journey, he acknowledged just how unlikely this moment once seemed.

“No. Four years ago, I put the clubs in the cupboard, did some coaching, did a full year of coaching and played tournaments on the Sunshine Tour,” he explained.

“Then I started getting back out there and won the Zimbabwe Open in 2024, then started finding my feet and won two more times. But yeah, I started my first season out here well — and here we are.”

It is a reminder that professional golf careers rarely follow straight lines. 

For Hollick, persistence has finally translated into a breakthrough on one of the game’s biggest stages.

The defeat for du Plessis will be a tough one, especially in the manner it unfolded over the closing holes and the fact he had already come close to a first DP World Tour title on home soil earlier this season. 

BMW International Open Final Leaderboard

At the BMW International Open, drama is rarely in short supply, but this year’s finish will be remembered for Hollick’s fearless execution under pressure.

From a bogey at 16 that threatened to derail his challenge, to a precise approach at 18 and a 20-foot eagle putt to win it all, the South African delivered a closing stretch worthy of a first-time champion.

Now a DP World Tour winner at 39, Hollick’s career has a new trajectory — and possibly a new ceiling.