BlogBMW PGA Preview and Picks

The Buzz:

This is the most prestige event on the European Tour.  It’s played on a classic old course Wentworth, about 20 miles west of London.  Over the years it’s been a tough time getting a top-notch field as some European Tour members took passes to play on the PGA Tour instead of it’s tours premiere events.  But that has changed as more marquee players are realizing how important this event is.  With this being a Ryder Cup year the only European player of note not playing is Graeme McDowell who was a last minute withdrawal because he needed to spend some time with his wife Kristin who is expecting the couples first child later in the summer.

I can only wish that more American players would venture to London to play in this event, I would like to see a deal made with the PGA Tour in which money won in this event would be official money on the PGA Tour.  If that could happen, this event would have a star-studded field.  Now realistically the odds on this happening are slim and none because the folks at Ponte Vedra would have a tough time selling the week to a sponsor of an event held in the States.  I have to think that maybe in the future the PGA Tour could figure out some ways of taking events like the BMW PGA Championship and possibly the Australian Open and make them part of the PGA Tour.  Many including a lot of tour stops would probably not like that because it could cost them marquee players, a bit like what the WGC has done to many of the Tour stops on the PGA Tour.

Here are some of the secrets of what it takes to play well at the BMW PGA Championship.

Key stat for the winner:

• The course is a classic shotmaker course, that is why those that hit lot’s of greens like Luke Donald have done well at Wentworth.  Having a short game is also important because for those that miss the greens, getting it up and down is tough as there are a lot of bumps and knolls around these greens.  Even last year’s winner Matteo Manassero handed the shots to the greens hitting 53 of 72 which ranked T4th.
• Experience has always been a key to winning as you see the list of champions including Luke Donald, Colin Montgomerie, Ian Woosnam, Bernhard Langer, Jose Maria Olazabal, Nick Faldo and Seve Ballesteros. Even at 21-years-old, Matteo Manassero has tons of experience as he had already won three times before his Wentworth victory. But others with very little experience like Simon Khan, Scott Drummond and Ignacio Garrido have won.  Still have to go with the player with lot’s of experience, even though guys like Ernie Els, Lee Westwood and Padraig Harrington have yet to grace the winner’s circle at the BMW PGA.
•  It’s interesting to note that Ernie Els has won the Match Play and other events at Wentworth.  But he never won the BMW PGA Championship.  Could he finally break that jinx?  He has a home at Wentworth and has help redesign the course so if there isn’t a person with more “home field advantage” I can’t think of any.
• Look for lot’s of excitement as the course finishes with a pair of par 5s.  Two years ago Ernie Els made some changes to the 18th by putting the body of water in front of the green.  This brought the scoring average up on the hole, but defeated the purpose of having a player attack the hole in order to win.  The hole has been redone since, and it’s now a gambling hole and one that is getting to be better. Look for more excitement in the finish this year.
• Now for those that don’t like backing “Seniors” you will change your mind with Miguel Angel Jimenez.  Last week he became the first over 50 to win on the European Tour at the Spanish Open, and you have to think that he can win this week.  He is a past champion but if you watch Jimenez he acts more like a player in his late 30s.  He also loves his vices like Cuban cigars, big steaks and red wine and just a couple of weeks ago got married so maybe that is the reason for his great play.
• Weather will play a factor this week as the forecast has 70% chance of rain on Thursday, going down to 20% for Friday, but back up to 60% on Saturday and 30% on Sunday.  It’s not going to be warm either as it will be in the mid-60s, but look for some wind all four days around 15 mph.  London has experienced a very wet winter so the players will have a very lush course with very healthy rough.