The charm of Wentworth, albeit a redesigned one, will be back in play this week on the European PGA Tour as the PGA Championship 2017 swings into action. This is the biggest golfing event on British shores outside of the Open Championship of course and this is such an important event not only for the players entering but for the European Tour itself. This is really the flagship European PGA Tour event and this is the opening foray into the newly branded Rolex Series of elite events.
The changes on the West Course have happened after complaints that it wasn’t really in a position to host such elaborate events. But Now with a big investment, the course has changed its look and feel over the last twelve months. Last year, Chris Wood came through the field to take the title with a 9 under par and he has talked a lot this week about a lower score than that being required to win this year’s event.
The main changes are less severe bunkers (there are 25% fewer bunkers now in order to make the course play a bit fairer) and the greens which are going to be easier for putting as well as they have changed surface and have moisture-control technology under them, the same which is in play at Augusta. The course will now be attacked a little more thanks to the redesign which encourages lower scoring. Players are likely going to be braver than conservative now.
Rory McIlroy was supposed to be playing but he misses out because of his rib injury. The new Rolex Series includes this PGA Championship, along with the Irish Open, the French Open, Scottish Open, Italian Open and the Turkish Open. Defending champion Chris Wood is 35/1 at Boylesports. He has a good track record at Wentworth, having landed in the top six in three of previous seven attempts at the course. After coming in from a solid challenge of a top four finish In China, he is going to be wroth an easy flutter in this one, particularly with Boylesports paying out to seven places.
Tommy Fleetwood at 28/1 has masses of appeal in this one and the superb long game of Fleetwood could put him in contention. He is a tremendous fit for the course and there aren’t many better at the long game around then he is at the moment. He has performed well and you will remember just a couple of years ago he was in contention for the title at Wentworth before slipping back to sixth in the end. He stacks up very well this week to have a shot at the title. He has the long game consistency to grind this out.
Tyrrell Hatton has been making huge strides out on the PGA this season where has climbed into the top twenty for the first time in his career. He was also one of the better performers last year at Wentworth as well with a seventh-place finish on the board. At a big price, like Fleetwood and Wood, there is value in backing him in an each way punt. Another trending player this week could be Matthew Fitzpatrick, who has been banging it out in the USA. He is a three-time winner on the European Tour and while he doesn’t have the record at Wentworth to be a little more confident the changes at the course echo the Woburn course at which he won’t get 2015 British Masters.
Skipping over the temptation to back high-class Brits, Austrian Bernd Wiesberger is going to have appeal. He has made the cut in each of his last 20 outfits now and is so consistent that he should compete her. He has landed in the top five in 75% of his last dozen starts on the European Tour so is obvious each way value for us. He was 15th in last year’s effort and with a strong recent showing at The Players Championship as a nod towards form, he could be well in the mix.
PGA Championship Outright Odds
Justin Rose 12/1, Henrik Stenson 12/1, Francesco Molinari 18/1, Alex Noren 20/1, Bernd Wiesberger 20/1, Byeong Hun An 22/1, Thomas Pieters 25/1, Tyrrell Hatton 25/1, Martin Kaymer 25/1, Tommy Fleetwood 28/1, Matthew Fitzpatrick 33/1, Branden Grace 33/1, Lee Westwood 33/1, Chris Wood 35/1, Ian Poulter 40/1, bar 50/1.
Online betting site Boylesports are paying out to seven places in the BMW PGA Championship this week. Not only do you get that extra each way place then (paying out on 7 places at 1/5 odds), they are offering your money back as a free bet if your selection finishes 2nd or 3rd at the event (including ties). Max free bet refund £20 per customer. Applies to bets placed prior to the start of the tournament on the tournament outright only. Applies to win singles and win part of e/w bets only. Register an account with Boylesports and place a bet of £10 or more at odds of EVENS (2.0) or greater, and receive £30 in FREE BETS.
