BMW PGA Championship tips and predictions

The Punter's Preview: Back course specialist Rai

This is a great line-up and a case can be made for most of the market leaders. But the only one I couldn't leave out before the off is this year's US PGA champion, Aaron Rai, who has finished second, third and fourth in the last three editions of this event.

He hasn't recorded a top 10 finish since his victory at Aronimink, with a tied 11^th at the US Open his best performance, but that's not entirely surprising.

Becoming a major champion for the first time often leads to a period of poor form but he showed signs of improvement last time out, ranking first for Driving Accuracy and sixth for Greens In Regulation when finishing 16^th in the BMW Championship.

He also putted better than he had in any event since his PGA win and he's impossible to ignore given his clear liking of the venue.

First Round Leader Picks: Back Aberg to get off to a flyer

Dave Tindall: Of the last 15 players to have had a piece of the first-round lead in this event, five are home Englishmen and five are Scandinavians.

Perhaps it's playing in the cooler climes of September that helps these Northern Europeans find comfort early?

Anyway, it's a starting point and leads me to Ludvig Aberg to get off to a flyer and set the tone for a big week.

The Swede made quick starts in the FedEx Cup Playoffs, enjoying FRL positions of 17-8-5, the latter helping him finish fourth at the Tour Championship.

In this event, Aberg was the 18-hole leader last year (64) while he occupied top spot after rounds two and three on his only other appearance at Wentworth in 2023 thanks to back-to-back 66s.

A first-round leader at the RBC Heritage a dozen starts ago, Aberg is an afternoon starter at 13:00 from the 1st.

Long Odds Tips: Recent winner a huge price

Steve Rawlings: South Africa's Thriston Lawrence managed to beat Paul Casey in a playoff at Crans two weeks ago after amassing an 18-under-par total, despite shooting a three-over-par 73 on Saturday.

That was his third win at the Omega European Masters, so he clearly loves it there, but he's also performed nicely at Wentworth previously too, trading at a low of 1.3130/100 two years ago before losing in extra time.

It's asking a lot for him to win so soon after his third Swiss success, but he wouldn't be the first to double up on the DP World Tour this season.

Jayden Schaper and Casey Jarvis have both won back-to-back and both Patrick Reed and Eugenio Chacarra have won two events in the space of three weeks.

Lawrence missed the cut in Ireland last week but that's perfectly understandable after his win the week before and the market had definitely overreacted.

Place order to lay 8 Us @ 10.09/1 and 12 Us @ 2.01/1

Course and current form stats

Course Form Pick: Rory McIlroy

After failing to get the result he wanted at last week's event in Ireland, the Masters champion could have more luck at a venue where he was a runner-up in 2024 and '22.

Biltmore Championship tips and predictions

The Punter's Preview: Back the Postman to deliver

Steve Rawlings: Like many pro golfers, JT Poston now lives in Sea Island, Georgia, but given he's from Hickory, North Carolina, which is a little over an hour away from Ashville, the four time PGA Tour winner may well have some experience of this week's venue. And even if he doesn't, having won the Memorial Tournament at Muirfield Village in June, he may well take to the place anyway.

As a winner this year sitting at number 32 on the FedEx Cup standings, Poston is here to win the title and for no other reason. That clarity of purpose may serve him well.

He's already a winner in his home state, having won the Wyndham Championship in 2019, and this looks like a great opportunity for The Postman to deliver again.

Each-way Tips: Horschel's tasty form makes him one to back

Dave Tindall: The 11-time PGA Tour winner Billy Horschel has a 12th (Wyndham Championship last time) and a 13th (3M Open) in two of his last three starts. He was 13th (Wyndham) and 3rd (3M) for Strokes Gained: Tee To Green in those events so looks to be striking it well again.

Sedgefield, home to the Wyndham Championship, is also a North Carolina layout and Horschel has a great record there (five top sevens) while he's also got some tasty form on Jack Nicklaus tracks.

He's bagged a win and other good finishes at Muirfield Village and was also a runner-up at The Concession when it staged the 2021 Workday Championship.

Current form stats

Current Form Pick: Jacob Bridgeman

After finishing T4 at the Tour Championship and ninth at the BMW Championship, it is not difficult to envisage the 26-year-old American challenging at Walnut Cove this week. A southerner, from neighbouring South Carolina, he is not too far from home and that could give him a boost too.

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