BMW PGA Championship Odds and Preview – Golf Betting September 19-22

Fitz capable of building on decent Wentworth record

Golf Betting

The BMW PGA Championship is the flagship tournament on the European PGA Tour.

It isn’t the most valuable event on the Tour but trumps others with its history. The championship tournament was rotated around several of Britain’s finest courses before finding a permanent home on the West Course at Wentworth in 1984.

The honours list includes Sir Nick Faldo, Colin Montgomerie, Bernhard Langer , Seve Ballesteros, Ian Woosnam and José María Olazábalm with victory providing a three-year exemption for the Open and an automatic entry in the following year’s US Open. Montgomerie is the only player to have won it three times in succession and Arnold Palmer is the only American to have come out on top in its 63-year history.

Recent Winners of the BMW PGA Championship

Year
Winner
Country

This year’s tournament takes on added significance as it sees the start of Ryder Cup qualification for European players. That’s probably the chief reason why several big names have temporarily deserted the start of the new US PGA season to compete. An argument can certainly be made that the US PGA regulars are a cut above those that ply their trade in Europe, year-on-year, but Justin Rose (a best 18/1) had to miss the pre-tournament pro-am to rest an ongoing problem and may not be at his best.
Rory McIlroy is a best 6/1 with Betfred.
The Northern Irishman has a win and a second from his last three tournament appearances. But he’s never had the best of luck at Wentworth in the past, even missing the cut on a few occasions, and looks poor value. That said, Wentworth is a course that generally suits those that drive long from off the tee.
Tony Finau, Patrick Reed and Billy Horschel are all bidding to become only the second American winner of the BMW PGA Championship.
Jon Rahm is a best 11/1 with Paddy Power and is also making a rare appearance in Europe.
The Spaniard has been in terrific form in the United States having finished in the top 12 in his last six tournaments. He’s only won once this year, in New Orleans, but has the quality to shine at Wentworth.
MATTHEW FITZPATRICK is very interesting at 28/1 with 888sport.
It’s easy to forget that the Sheffield pro is still only 25 as he has won European ranking tournaments in each of the last four years. Fitzpatrick is running out of time to extend that record but he’s finished 12th and eighth in his last two appearances at Wentworth and hasn’t been playing badly lately. Encouragement enough to suggest his current odds are too big.
Henrik Stenson makes some appeal at a general 22/1.
The Swede appears to have found some form again after a spell in the doldrums. He’s recorded top 10 finishes in the US Open, Scottish Open and Canadian Open this summer and was also in the top 20 in the Open. In his last two appearances at Wentworth, Stenson has finished third and seventh so the course clearly suits. However, he hasn’t won anywhere since 2017 and, aged 43, there comes a time when experience doesn’t trump youth and potential.
At much bigger odds (a general 100/1), ANDREW JOHNSTON might be a decent each-way bet.
One of the most popular players on the European Tour. You can’t miss ‘Beef’ on the golf course but he’s had an indifferent season. The Londoner has only managed top 10 finishes on three occasions and missed the cut in the Open. But he’s played well in Sweden and Switzerland in his last two appearances and maybe the prospect of Ryder Cup points will aid concentration.
Shane Lowry is among the other big names taking part and is a general 28/1.
The Open champion finished second at Wentworth in 2014, fourth in 2011 and sixth in both 2015 and 2016 so this is a course he likes. Lowry will be desperate to play in the 2020 Ryder Cup, when Europe will be captained by his fellow countryman Padraig Harrington, and a prominent showing here wouldn’t harm his chances.
Defending champion Francesco Molinari is a best 30/1 along with Reed and the ever-improving Viktor Hovland.

BMW PGA Championship Current Best Odds

Rory McIlroy 6/1
Jon Rahm 11/1
Paul Casey 14/1
Justin Rose 18/1
Tommy Fleetwood 20/1
Henrik Stenson 22/1
Tony Finau 25/1
Matt Wallace, Shane Lowry and Matthew Fitzpatrick 28/1
Francesco Molinari, Viktor Hovland and Patrick Reed 30/1
Alex Noren, Bernd Wiesberger and Erik van Rooyen 40/1
Thomas Pieters 45/1
Tyrrell Hatton 50/1
Rafael Cabrera Bello and Billy Horschel 60/1
Joost Luiten, Ian Poulter, Matthias Schwab and Danny Willett 66/1
Hao Tong Li and Mike Lorenzo Vera 70/1
Lee Westwood, Robert MacIntyre, Lucas Bjerregaard, Andrew Putnam, Martin Kaymer and Andrea Pavan 80/1
Marcus Kinhult, Tom Lewis and Alexander Bjork 90/1
Eddie Pepperell, Sam Horsfield, Andrew Johnston, Thomas Detry and Branden Grace 100/1
125/1 and Upwards Others

(Odds correct at 1.45pm September 18)