BMW PGA Championship (Virginia Water, Surrey, England): May 23-26
Wentworth Club (West Course)
Yardage: 7,302 yards (6,679 meters)
Course Designer: Harry Colt (1926)
Purse: 4,750,000 euros
This week's BMW PGA Championship is one of the world's biggest and most prestigious tournaments. Winners of the event include Tony Jacklin (1972 and 1982), Arnold Palmer (1975), Sir Nick Faldo (1978, 1980-1981, 1989), Seve Ballesteros (1983 and 1991), Bernhard Langer (1987, 1993, 1995), Ian Woosnam (1988 and 1997), Jose Maria Olazabal (1994), Colin Montgomerie (1998-2000), Miguel Angel Jimenez (2008), Paul Casey (2009), and Luke Donald (2011-2012). There has been an increase of 250,000 euros to put the prize fund at a record 4,750,000 euros. 11 out of the 12 "Miracle at Medinah" 2012 Ryder Cuppers will take part, along with their captain, Olazabal, and vice-captains Thomas Bjorn, Darren Clarke, Miguel Angel Jimenez, and Paul McGinley (2014 Ryder Cup captain). Sweden's Peter Hanson is the only member of last year's Ryder Cup team not to commit to the BMW PGA.
The weather for England's only regular Tour event has been fantastic for the last three editions of the tournament, although this week isn't expected to be quite as fortunate. The forecast for Thursday thru Sunday calls for the weather to be cloudy and cool with a chance of showers. Winds are expected to be gusting over 10 miles per hour and temperatures are going to be around 55-60 degrees Fahrenheit for most of the tournament. Still, tens of thousands will converge on the West Course each day to see the European Tour's best fight it out over the four days. British golf fans are the most knowledgeable in the world and it's a delight to see the players put on a wonderful show for the worthy fans. With a minimum of 64 world ranking points on offer to the winner, a spot in this year's U.S. Open, a European Tour exemption for the next five years, and a healthy winner's check of 791,660 euros, this is a Championship that every European Tour member wants to win.
Donald, the current world #6, has won the event in back-to-back years. He will be trying to emulate Montgomerie, who went back-to-back-to-back from 1998 to 2000. Donald, much like Monty, is not an overpowering player and, instead, uses his pinpoint iron play to his advantage. The West Course is a tree-lined layout that requires strategy and calls for players to think their way around, unlike most of the bomber's-type courses that seem to be dominating world golf at the moment.
For a tournament of this caliber, it's tough to pick a winner as there are so many players who could triumph. Donald is among my favorites, not just because he has won the event two years in a row, but because he has the ideal playing style for this course. I'm also looking for three other Englishmen to contend: Lee Westwood, Justin Rose, and Ian Poulter. Westwood lost out in a playoff to Donald in 2011 and has posted four consecutive top-10s in his last four worldwide events. Something tells me he'll be near the top of the leaderboard during his back nine on Sunday. Rose, ranked #4 in the world, finished second to Donald last year at Wentworth and has the type of iron play that could see him go one better this year. Poulter, a matchplay wizard who was eliminated before the knockout stages of last week's Volvo World Match Play Championship, has extra motivation this week to avenge last week's poor performance. Other European favorites include Graeme McDowell (last week's Volvo World Match Play winner, but without a top-10 in this event in 10 tries), world #2 Rory McIlroy (has had average success here with only one top-10 in five tries), Francesco Molinari, Martin Kaymer, Matteo Manassero, Paul Lawrie, Paul Casey, Ross Fisher, Alex Noren, David Horsey, and David Howell. Non-European challengers should include Ernie Els (lives on the Wentworth estate and also revamped all 18 greens from 2009-2011), Brett Rumford (winner of back-to-back events in Korea and China within the past month and is #2 in the Race to Dubai), Richard Sterne (ranked #4 in the Race to Dubai), Branden Grace (finished tied-3rd in last week's Match Play), Thomas Aiken (also finished tied-3rd last week), Thongchai Jaidee (lost in the final to McDowell last week and is #7 in the Race to Dubai), Marcus Fraser (finished tied-4th in 2011 and has the playing style to contend at Wentworth), and Peter Uihlein (now exempt on the European Tour after winning last week's Madeira Islands Open, the opposite field event which was co-sanctioned between the European and Challenge Tours).
There's a certain buzz that surrounds European events, but the flagship event tops them all. The crowds, course, and competition make for a great tournament. A worthy champion will be crowned on Sunday, and he will be fully deserving after having beaten a star-studded field and tackled a challenging course. There have already been three Tour events in Europe so far this season, but the BMW PGA Championship signals the true beginning of the European golfing season. Let's get it started with a bang!
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