In the now almost traditional show event to mark the beginning of the tournament, the top stars Xander Schauffele, Patrick Reed (both USA) and Paul Casey (England), his countryman and Porsche European Open title-holder, Richard McEvoy, Ryder Cup player Thomas Pieters (Belgium), the second in the Race to Dubai Bernd Wiesberger (Austria), the Dane Lucas Bjerregaard plus the German local hero Max Schmitt faced each other in a thrilling knock-out competition.
This year, the Spielbudenplatz square, a part of the Reeperbahn, was transformed into a racetrack. Going head-to-head, the eight contestants had to propel their miniature Porsche down a course resembling a starting grid as quick as possible by hitting balls into various stacks of tyres.
Precise Pieters had “so much fun”
Speed and precision were the key to success – and in the Porsche Urban Golf Challenge’s third year, the winner did not come from USA for the first time. Thomas Pieters and Max Schmitt both qualified for the final where the former showed his excellent ability to come to terms with unusual assignments. His first three attempts all landed in the target to hand him the win.
“Playing golf right in the middle of the city was so much fun. It was a fun event – and I was the quickest, just like a Porsche”, said Pieters who can look forward to a rather special prize. The Belgian has been given a new Cayenne Coupé as his personal sports car for all his journeys during his time in Hamburg. “Back home I drive a 911. Now I’m looking forward to driving around in the Cayenne,” said Pieters who in the final was only a few seconds quicker than Schmitt. “Winning a personal Porsche for my days here would have been great, but it was nevertheless a fantastic competition. Now I’ve got to look ahead and end up by winning the Porsche European Open on Sunday,” laughed the young German.
