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BMW PGA Championship 2019: Your form guide for this week's event at Wentworth

Andy Swales
16 September 2019

Defending champ: Francesco Molinari crosses the bridge at 18 during Sunday's final round last year

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Course and current form stats ahead of this week's European Tour 'major' over the West Course at Wentworth. Stats and words supplied by Andy Swales ...

"Europe's golfing officials have been rewarded with one of the strongest fields in Wentworth history. Seven of the world's top 16 have travelled across the Atlantic to compete, as well as 20 of the leading 50."

For the first time in European Tour history, the BMW PGA Championship is being held in September.

After 44 successive years in May, the Tour's flagship event has been moved to its new late season slot.

In many ways, this new date has been forced on the European Tour following decisions made more than 4,000 miles away across the Atlantic.

When the PGA Tour decided to bring forward its end-of-season FedEx Cup Play-Offs, and to accommodate this change America's PGA Championship was moved from August to May, something had to give.

If the BMW-sponsored event at Wentworth had remained in its former position on the calendar, it would have found itself wedged somewhere between the second and third major championships of the year - which during 2019 were separated by just four weeks.

This would have had a profound negative effect on its quality of field.

So European officials at Wentworth decided to act quickly, in order to dispel any fears that many of the Tour's US-based pros might decide to remain Stateside, and not return to England to contest their own Blue Riband championship.

Excellent Attendance

As it happens, Europe's golfing officials have been rewarded with one of the strongest fields in Wentworth history.

Seven of the world's top 16 have travelled across the Atlantic to compete, as well as 20 of the leading 50.

Among them are American trio Patrick Reed, Tony Finau and Billy Horschel, all of whom would probably have not made the trip if the championship was still being staged in May.

Star Attractions

Wherever you look, you can't help but be impressed by the level of talent teeing-up.

World No 2 Rory McIlroy is the biggest name taking part, but there are many others too.

This year's Open champion Shane Lowry makes his first start in Europe since winning at Royal Portrush in July.

The Irishman has a strong record over the West Course, where he finished runner-up to McIlroy five years ago.

Defending champion Francesco Molinari has posted six top-10s from his most recent seven starts here, while in-form Paul Casey won 10 years ago.

Check out latest betting ahead of this week's PGA Championship at Wentworth

One player whose appearance is largely down to the change in dates is Henrik Stenson, who is making only a third start at Wentworth in nine years.

The Swede was third over the West Course in 2017 and has played well during the latter part of the summer.

Newcomer To Surrey

Despite making his Wentworth debut, Spaniard Jon Rahm will be a feared competitor, while just outside the world's top 25 are the names of Matt Wallace and Matthew Fitzpatrick.

Wallace was third in Amsterdam on Sunday, while his fellow Englishman has played pretty well most of the year, registering three runner-up finishes. Fitzpatrick tied-eighth at Wentworth in 2018.

One other player with a good course history is Branden Grace. Although the South African has not posted a strokeplay top-10 since early February, Wentworth is a venue where golfers often rediscover inspiration through their back catalogue of good memories.

Historic Venue

The West Course at Wentworth has been the tournament's permanent home since 1984 and has undergone a number of changes since the turn of the Millennium.

Ernie Els, who was called upon to revamp this Surrey course as long ago as 2009, was brought in to make further changes seven years later, following strong criticism by a number of players.

Many leading pros were unhappy with the state of the greens and, ahead of the 2017 tournament, all 18 putting surfaces were dug up and re-seeded with a new creeping bent grass.

The South African sought the advice of a handful of experienced golfers and, during the multi-million pound renovation, four greens were completely re-built - with another five partially re-constructed.

They also installed a new sub-air system below each of the greens with the purpose of making them firmer and faster, while improving drainage.

According to the European Tour website: 'The aim of the renovation was to recognise Harry Colt's original vision for the West Course, while taking into account the demands of the modern game.'

Heading Back In Time

Former Ryder Cup skipper Thomas Bjorn, one of those who assisted Els in making the changes, admitted: "It is an old style course and it had probably been a little over-modernised, so we brought it to where we think it should be.

"We listened long and hard to the views of the Tour players. You have to when you have such a big event on a traditional golf course with so much history.

"We've taken some of the tough obstacles out which we didn't think Wentworth was all about."

This included easing the severity of contouring on many putting surfaces, and reducing the depth of a number of bunkers.

Els added: "We improved the greens and took bunkers out, and restored holes to their former glory. Some holes don't even have bunkers on them anymore."

In all, a total of 29 bunkers were removed. However, this famous Virginia Water heathland layout remains a tough, tree-lined course, ready to challenge the skills and nerves of those teeing-up this Thursday.

Twitter: Andy Swales@GolfStatsAlive

MC* - Missed Additional 54-Hole Cut

Note: List contains leading reserves

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Position

1–5
6–15
16–25

Player	W37	W36	W35	W34	W33	W32	W31	W30	W29	W28
Rory McIlroy			2	1	19	6		4	MC	34
Justin Rose				26	52	10		11	20
Jon Rahm				13	5	3		7	11
Francesco Molinari					61	82			11
Tony Finau				7	4	30		27	3
Tommy Fleetwood			8	13	11	43		4	2
Paul Casey		1		3	24		13	27	57
Patrick Reed	15	36		15	19	1	22	12	10
Shane Lowry					48	52			1
Matthew Fitzpatrick			69	2				4	20	14
Matt Wallace	3		MC					27	51	14
Henrik Stenson				3				27	20	4
Ian Poulter					31	10		8	MC	14
Bernd Wiesberger		5	MC		30				32	1
Billy Horschel					37	21	6	9	MC
Rafael Cabrera-Bello					63			12	MC	9
Eddie Pepperell			35		MC			51	71	43
Andrew Putnam					43	12		24	32	4
Tyrrell Hatton						59		43	6	14
Alex Noren			MC	40			60	12	11
Hao Tong Li								20	MC	MC
Lucas Bjerregaard		MC	28				MC	51	16	MC
Justin Harding			MC	43	7			43	41	MC
Lee Westwood	MC		28		MC				4	55
Danny Willett			MC			24		48	6
Erik Van Rooyen			12	1	5				20	14
Tom Lewis	MC		1	59	Wd				11	43
Kiradech Aphibarnrat						71	60		32	MC*
Andrea Pavan			12	16	3			25	MC	4
Jorge Campillo	MC	33	MC						MC	MC*
Thomas Pieters	10	20	12		1				67	20
Branden Grace	MC					30	48		51	MC
Russell Knox	MC					MC	48		41	MC
Mike Lorenzo-Vera	10		6						MC	28
Joost Luiten	10		23	29					32	MC
Robert MacIntyre		2	MC	MC	23				6	MC
Benjamin Hebert			MC	MC					41	2
Adri Arnaus		MC	6	MC	2				MC
Guido Migliozzi		7	33							28
Martin Kaymer	MC						MC	31		20
Sebastian Soderberg	70		1	5	MC					MC
Mikko Korhonen	65		35		39				63	48
Viktor Hovland	10			2	11		4			16
Ryan Fox		60	MC						16	MC
Adrian Otaegui		MC	MC	MC	MC				MC	20
Alexander Bjork		22	28	20	23				MC	62
Andy Sullivan		36	MC	20					MC	28
Kurt Kitayama	21	36	MC						MC	43
Marcus Kinhult			12	20						48
Paul Waring		28		20	30				63	48
Christiaan Bezuidenhout			12	68					MC	34
Matthias Schwab		2	8		5					MC
Julian Suri		MC	MC	MC	MC					55
Lucas Herbert		22	8	MC						62
Jordan Smith		MC	MC	MC						MC
David Lipsky			MC	51	MC				MC	MC
Thomas Detry	36		20	20						43
Richard Sterne		22	48						MC	MC
Aaron Rai			MC	29	39			12		MC
Victor Perez	MC		MC	10						28
Sean Crocker	36	MC	28	Wd						55
Ross Fisher		46	35							MC
Alexander Levy		MC	MC	5	18				MC	MC
Dean Burmester		MC	MC	3	58		33			MC*
Sam Horsfield	49	14	43	10	3					MC
Kalle Samooja		MC	2	47	51					20
Gavin Green	40		12	16	58					MC
Chris Paisley	27		48	MC						34
Pablo Larrazabal		7	MC							72
Jason Scrivener			MC	20	30					MC
Andrew Johnston			23	10					MC	4
Brandon Stone	21		MC	MC*	MC				MC	34
Scott Hend	MC	36	MC		71					MC
Nacho Elvira		36	MC							48
Joachim B Hansen		MC	43	16	30					MC
Wade Ormsby			8	5						MC
Gaganjeet Bhullar	60		MC	53	MC					MC
Chris Wood	40		69	53					MC	MC
Alvaro Quiros		46	48							MC
Paul Dunne	27		MC	MC	23					MC
Darren Fichardt		56	43	MC	30					48
Fabrizio Zanotti	MC	MC	MC							55
Shubhankar Sharma	40		46	MC	MC				51	34
George Coetzee	15			MC	MC					9
David Law	60		MC	MC	MC					MC
Robert Rock				70					MC	MC
Scott Jamieson	21		12	MC	39					26
Grant Forrest	MC	MC	58		MC					43
Lorenzo Gagli	MC	MC	2	40	MC					14
Maximilian Kieffer	27	MC		MC						MC
Ashun Wu	55	36	MC	20						MC
Stephen Gallacher			MC	47	MC					MC
David Drysdale	MC	MC	23							MC*
Matthew Southgate	10	46	MC	10	30					MC
Jack Singh Brar	MC	64	33	37	14					62
Joakim Lagergren	7	20	MC	10						MC
Kim Koivu	MC		MC	MC	11					Wd
Padraig Harrington	15	12	MC		58		MC	MC	MC	MC
Andres Romero	21		2	MC				51	MC	MC
Nino Bertasio	49		20	Wd	MC				72	4
Edoardo Molinari	21		MC	MC*	14					34
Renato Paratore		MC	12	20	39					28
Ashley Chesters	15	9	72	MC	18					MC*
Soren Kjeldsen	55	MC	MC	29	MC					MC
Lee Slattery	40		35	40	39					9
Ernie Els					MC		Wd		32
Thomas Aiken										55
Nicolas Colsaerts	MC		MC	53	58					69
Hideto Tanihara	27	56	20	MC						62
Liam Johnston	15	MC	61	MC	5					MC
Matthieu Pavon	MC		MC	10	MC					MC
Tapio Pulkkanen		MC	MC	MC	39					MC
Richard McEvoy		MC	MC	MC						MC
Victor Dubuisson		Wd	43	Wd	39					MC
Oliver Fisher	MC	22	MC	MC	51					48
Justin Walters		Wd	MC	59	58					MC
Romain Wattel	MC	6	MC	MC	14					20
Haydn Porteous	55		35	29	11		9			34
Richie Ramsay	55	MC	58	MC	58					34
Dave Horsey	MC		43		MC					34
Gonzalo F`dez-Castano	MC		MC	59	23					MC*
Stuart Manley	55	22	76	MC	67					55
Jamie Donaldson	27		35	5	MC					9
Jaco Van Zyl	MC	17	63				2			MC
Thongchai Jaidee										MC
Luke Donald			MC				MC			56
Bradley Dredge	10		61	47	39					62
Jacques Kruyswijk		66	MC	MC	23					MC
Yusaku Miyazato	49	MC	48	MC						MC
Trevor Immelman	60	MC	MC							MC*
Robert Karlsson	MC		63	MC	10					MC
Julien Guerrier
Steven Brown	15		MC	MC	MC					MC
Pedro Figueiredo	49	33	35	MC	MC					MC
Thomas Bjorn		MC	MC	MC	58					Wd
Jens Dantorp	MC	MC	48	40	MC					69
Raphael Jacquelin	MC		MC	MC	MC					MC
Ricardo Gouveia	MC	36	MC	MC*	48					MC
Jeung-Hun Wang	27	MC	MC	MC*	MC					MC
James Morrison	4	MC	28	29	30					MC
Miguel Angel Jimenez			23						MC
SSP Chawrasia	MC	MC	MC							MC
David Dixon
David Howell	MC		63	MC	30					MC
Paul O`Hara
Michael Campbell	MC	MC
Matthew Cort
Jose Maria Olazabal	MC
Robert Coles

Player	`18	`17	`16	`15	`14	`13	`12	`11	`10	`09
Rory McIlroy	2			MC	1	MC	MC	24	48	5
Justin Rose		12		38	25	50	2	MC	10
Jon Rahm
Francesco Molinari	1	2	55	5	7	9	7	50	17	35
Tony Finau
Tommy Fleetwood	20	MC	69	6	MC	24	49
Paul Casey	20					MC	MC	24	17	1
Patrick Reed
Shane Lowry	15	6	MC	6	2	12	68	4	65
Matthew Fitzpatrick	8	12	47
Matt Wallace	20	MC
Henrik Stenson		3			7				61	MC
Ian Poulter	20	40			26	MC	10	18	MC
Bernd Wiesberger		30	15	MC	46	12	53	MC
Billy Horschel
Rafael Cabrera-Bello	8		22	MC	16	MC	15	MC	17	MC
Eddie Pepperell	43		MC	72	21	6
Andrew Putnam
Tyrrell Hatton	MC	30	7	46	38
Alex Noren	3	1	43	8	Wd	32	21	MC	74	21
Hao Tong Li	43	30	27	MC
Lucas Bjerregaard	3	MC	MC	MC
Justin Harding
Lee Westwood	27	14	15	38	35	9	33	2	10	MC
Danny Willett	MC	58	3	38	63	32	43	MC	5
Erik Van Rooyen	20
Tom Lewis				55	46	MC	MC
Kiradech Aphibarnrat	5	14	60	27	MC	MC
Andrea Pavan	52				MC		MC
Jorge Campillo	MC	40	15	59	63	MC	MC
Thomas Pieters	MC	14	27	MC	MC
Branden Grace	5	9		11	61	24	5
Russell Knox		MC	MC
Mike Lorenzo-Vera	43	MC	MC	63						MC
Joost Luiten	MC	24	27	11	12	MC	MC	MC	17
Robert MacIntyre
Benjamin Hebert	35	58	12	MC			MC
Adri Arnaus
Guido Migliozzi
Martin Kaymer	MC	MC	7	18	12	50	15	31	MC	11
Sebastian Soderberg
Mikko Korhonen	15	MC
Viktor Hovland
Ryan Fox	43	MC
Adrian Otaegui	MC	MC			63
Alexander Bjork	27	14
Andy Sullivan	35	30	22	17	26	MC
Kurt Kitayama
Marcus Kinhult	12
Paul Waring	52	MC			46	MC		Ret	65	21
Christiaan Bezuidenhout
Matthias Schwab
Julian Suri	43
Lucas Herbert
Jordan Smith	MC	40
David Lipsky	27	MC	55	35
Thomas Detry	43
Richard Sterne	MC	MC	MC			57	6			MC
Aaron Rai	MC
Victor Perez
Sean Crocker
Ross Fisher	8	9	MC	MC	MC	32	MC	39	10	2
Alexander Levy	52	51		51	12
Dean Burmester	12	9
Sam Horsfield	15
Kalle Samooja
Gavin Green	52
Chris Paisley	MC	MC	MC			MC
Pablo Larrazabal	MC	24	12	MC	7	12	65	MC	MC	48
Jason Scrivener	MC	MC	MC
Andrew Johnston	MC	21	7	MC
Brandon Stone	60	MC	MC
Scott Hend	MC	24	15	MC
Nacho Elvira	MC	MC	MC		MC
Joachim B Hansen			MC		MC	MC
Wade Ormsby	MC	MC		MC
Gaganjeet Bhullar					MC	Ret
Chris Wood	27	49	1	4	21	Wd	49	MC	6
Alvaro Quiros	MC	MC	MC	46	57	32	10	18	MC	16
Paul Dunne	MC	30
Darren Fichardt	7	MC	MC	MC	MC	MC
Fabrizio Zanotti	15	MC	7	MC	16	24	MC	24	MC	21
Shubhankar Sharma
George Coetzee	MC	MC	MC	74	30	24	21
David Law
Robert Rock	20	MC	47	MC	38	MC	21	45	34	16
Scott Jamieson	MC	14	47	27	MC	MC	43	65
Grant Forrest
Lorenzo Gagli						MC	MC
Maximilian Kieffer	42	24	MC	27	MC	MC
Ashun Wu	64		MC
Stephen Gallacher	52	21	MC		5	MC	MC	MC	4	MC
David Drysdale	MC	49	37	Dq	MC	19	10	MC	56
Matthew Southgate	27	MC	MC
Jack Singh Brar
Joakim Lagergren	MC	MC	37
Kim Koivu
Padraig Harrington	MC	MC		Ret	61		MC		6
Andres Romero	MC									54
Nino Bertasio	60	14
Edoardo Molinari	MC	MC	65	Ret	46	19	49	39	MC
Renato Paratore	MC	MC	43	MC
Ashley Chesters	MC
Soren Kjeldsen	MC	30	MC	18	MC	45	MC	MC	41	3
Lee Slattery	MC	MC	MC	MC	MC	37	MC			35
Ernie Els	MC	51		59	MC	6	7	16	34	21
Thomas Aiken	MC	MC	4	35	7	MC	MC	39	17	10
Nicolas Colsaerts	MC	3	22	22	71	24	MC	MC	78
Hideto Tanihara	35	3
Liam Johnston
Matthieu Pavon	64	MC
Tapio Pulkkanen	MC
Richard McEvoy							MC	MC	48
Victor Dubuisson		24	60	63		MC	21
Oliver Fisher	MC	40	MC	MC	73	45	MC	MC	65	MC
Justin Walters		MC			MC	MC
Romain Wattel	MC	66	4	68	30	MC	MC	MC
Haydn Porteous	43	MC	MC
Richie Ramsay	35	30	43	MC	38	9	MC	MC	28	MC
Dave Horsey	MC	51	37	MC	35	MC	MC	7	MC	43
Gonzalo F`dez-Castano	MC					62	MC		MC	11
Stuart Manley
Jamie Donaldson	MC	MC	MC	18	30	37	53	7	34	32
Jaco Van Zyl		14	7	51		45	MC	39
Thongchai Jaidee	8	54	52	2	38	40	56	24	13	43
Luke Donald		65	27	38	3	MC	1	1	2	35
Bradley Dredge	MC	40	MC	70			60	39	Ret	MC
Jacques Kruyswijk	20
Yusaku Miyazato	Ret
Trevor Immelman	58	MC
Robert Karlsson	MC	MC	MC	27	67		MC		13	32
Julien Guerrier	MC
Steven Brown	MC
Pedro Figueiredo
Thomas Bjorn	MC	57	52	11	3	40	43		MC	16
Jens Dantorp	35
Raphael Jacquelin	MC	MC	MC	MC	46	24	MC	4	MC	71
Ricardo Gouveia	MC	MC	MC
Jeung-Hun Wang	52	MC	33
James Morrison	MC	MC	47	11		MC	10	MC	MC
Miguel Angel Jimenez			MC	2	35	4	39	MC	MC	43
SSP Chawrasia	MC	58	27	MC		MC	15	31	34	MC
David Dixon				MC				MC	MC	MC
David Howell	MC	48	MC	MC	MC	MC	MC	39	61	72
Paul O`Hara	MC
Michael Campbell						MC	MC	MC		MC
Matthew Cort		MC	MC	MC	MC		MC
Jose Maria Olazabal					MC	69	27	Ret		59
Robert Coles	MC	MC				69	MC	MC	MC