Remembered best for the years 1978 to 1992 when it alternated between Sunningdale and Walton Heath (with Turnberry and Royal Liverpool hosting once each), the event could now hardly be further from its roots.

After a 13 year stretch at the K Club from 1995 to 2007, the tournament returned to England and London Golf Club for two years before moving permanently to the continent.

2022 marks the fifth year the event will be played at the Green Eagle course, a layout purpose built to host professional golf and part of a 36-hole complex which also includes a six-hole par-3 course.

DEFENDING CHAMPION: It would be difficult to imagine a more popular – or emotional – winner than 2021 champion Marcus Armitage.

Known to all and sundry as ‘The Bullet’, the 34-year-old claimed his maiden European Tour victory in style at one of the longest courses in the game.

RIGHT: Marcus 'The Bullet' Armitage claimed one of the more popular European Tour wins here in 2021. PHOTO: Christof Koepsel/Getty Images.

Reduced to 54 holes because of Covid restrictions causing players and caddies difficulty getting into the country, Armitage claimed a two-stroke win when fellow Englishman Matthew Southgate found water off the tee at the par-5 finishing hole.

Armitage’s mother passed away when he was 13 and he has become a fan favourite thanks to his outgoing personality and social media presence.

COURSE: Everywhere one turns in researching the Porsche Nord Course at Green Eagle a theme emerges: Long.

This course is a beast in terms of length, weighing in just shy of 7,200 metres and the longest on the DP World Tour.

However, more interesting than the course’s difficulty is its backstory. The brainchild of local golf instructor and course designer Michael Blesch and partner Ralf Lühmann, the course was born out of a desire to break down golf’s elitist image.

Unable to join a local club as a youngster, Blesch determined he wanted to one day build his own facility with the goal of making it open to all. The Green Eagle resort is the result.

Accessible to anyone and boasting two 18-hole courses plus a six-hole par-3 course, the resort has hosted the DP World Tour for the past four years and, interestingly, crowned four English champions.

Green Eagle is built on flat land with water all over the property providing much of the challenge. PHOTO: Christof Koepsel/Getty Images.

The course is best known for its closing stretch of holes where there are three par-5s in the last four but no guarantee of a strong finish.

Water is a feature on almost every hole at Green Eagle but is a relentless threat from the all carry par-3 14th hole to the clubhouse.

The par-5 15th has water all down the left and cutting in front of the green, the par-5 16th has a fairway bisected by a creek for the second shot and water left of the green and the par-3 17th is another all water carry affair.

Water is again a constant presence left of the par-5 18th with the green tucked behind a pond at the end of its 550 metres.

The course relies on the par-5 holes for much of its length with the 16th an almost unfathomable 645 metres from the tips.

Despite all the yardage, however, three of the four events played to date have been won with scores of double digits under par with Armitage’s eight-under total for 54 holes last year the lone exception.

PRIZEMONEY: EUR1,750,000

RELATED: So-called expert golf tips for this week

PLAYERS TO WATCH: With most of the focus on big events in America there is little in the way of star power to be found in Germany this week.

Tommy Fleetwood is the event’s major drawcard and joins Henrik Stenson and Martin Kaymer as the most recognisable names in the field.

Since signing the partnership agreement with the PGA Tour last year, the DP World Tour has effectively become an international version of the secondary Korn Ferry Tour and is developing some promising talent.

RIGHT: Tommy Fleetwood gives this week's field some star power. PHOTO: David Cannon.

Spain’s Adri Arnaus is a little known quantity outside of Europe but played well at the recent PGA Championship on the back of some good 2022 form in Europe.

Polish trailblazer Adrian Meronk is another who is quietly going about his business playing some excellent golf including a third place finish at last week’s Dutch Open which earned him a place at St. Andrews in July.

Also in the field this week and likely feeling confident after a runner-up finish at this tournament in 2019 is Scottish left hander Robert MacIntyre.

The 25-year-old has played steady if unspectacular golf in the U.S. for most of 2022 and will like his chances in this company on a course that holds good memories.

72-HOLE RECORD: 274 (-14, Paul Casey, 2019)

PAST AUSSIE WINNERS: Graham Marsh (1981), Greg Norman (1986), Peter Senior (1990), Mike Harwood (1991)

AUSTRALIANS IN THE FIELD: Jason Scrivener, Maverick Antcliff and Zach Murray.

TV TIMES*
Round 1: Thursday (Fox Sports 503 9pm – 2am)
Round 2: Friday (Fox Sports 503 9pm – 2am)
Round 3: Saturday (Fox Sports 503 9.30pm – 2am)
Round 4: Sunday (Fox Sports 503 9.30pm – 2am)
*AEST, check local guides