For the second week running the DP World Tour takes centre stage with its flagship event with the BMW PGA Championship at the West Course, Wentworth Golf Club, Virginia Water, Surrey, England.
The 144 field with the top 65 including ties making it into the weekend will all be playing for a share of the €8M prize purse with the winner collecting the BMW PGA Championship title and a winner's cheque for €1.4M.
With a much stronger lineup than usual on show, this week's DP World Tour event includes the likes of Rory McIlroy and Jon Rahm, we will also see some of the LIV contingent being allowed to participate at Wentworth this week. Martin Kaymer is the first of them to withdraw before a ball is hit claiming he doesn’t feel welcome, I wonder why Martin?
Billy Horschel returns to defend his BMW PGA Championship crown. The West Ham fanatic from Florida triumphed here last year with one shot to spare over the chasing pack with a winning scorecard reading 269, -19.
This stunning West Course at Wentworth will be playing 7,267 yards long this week, it’s a par 72 parkland layout where the key to success will be accuracy and precision with greens in regulation figures proving pivotal come Sunday afternoon.
The weather is forecast to be rain, rain and more rain unfortunately for the most part with Sunday's final round seeing the best of the weather with a nice warm sunny day. Breezes shouldn’t pose any problems peaking at around 8mph.
This event will be screened on Sky Sports Golf and Sky Sports Main Event with live coverage starting at 9 am on Thursday morning.
So let’s move on with this week's betting selections for the DP World Tours flagship event at Wentworth.
Matthew Fitzpatrick
For my first and main tip to win the BMW Championship, I’m going to strongly advise Matthew Fitzpatrick 12/1 EW 1-8 places Skybet.
The 28-year-old from Sheffield and recent major US Open Champ will relish the challenge at Wentworth this week. Brimming with confidence as well as recent form that most in this field can only dream about, Fitzy looks the most likely winner in my book.
Fitzpatrick has only entered eighteen events this year but check out these stats. Thirteen of those attempts have been inside the Top 20, it could have been one more if not for 21st place at the 150th Open Championship, not too shabby at St Andrews for the biggest golfing event ever.
But it gets even better as ten of those efforts were in the Top 10 including the above-mentioned major when winning his maiden title in the US in spectacular style at The Country Club .. I tipped Fitzy for that spectacular US Open victory at 30/1 and I know that lots of you listened to my advice. I can list all those Top 20s, Top10s and Top5s but I really don’t feel the need.
Fitzy is in the form of his life at the moment and at only 28-year-old, the sky is the limit for this talented Englishman. He will want this BMW crown more than anyone this week at Wentworth and so will his home crowd who’ll be behind him all the way from start to finish just to add further incentive.
With a magnificent seven DP World Tour titles already in the bag, expect that to be eight this coming Sunday afternoon when Matthew Fitzpatrick turns on the style yet again to collect the BMW PGA Championship crown to the delight of both him and all of us here at MFT. What are you waiting for?
- Matthew Fitzpatrick
- 12/1 EW 1-8 places Skybet
- 10/1 EW 1-10 places Boylesports
Billy Horschel
For my next suggestion, I’m going to point you all in the direction of the defending Champion, Billy Horschel 28/1 EW SportNation. I really like this guy who owns the famous golf bag with West Ham plastered all over it, apparently, that was after watching the movie Green Street, that he fell in love with them. The 35-year-old from Florida has also made his opinions crystal clear about LIV golf and those LIV golfers in attendance this week at Wentworth, I’m not going to start with my own but Billy called it right in my opinion, they simply shouldn’t be there.
I know some will probably say why not but as I said I’m not getting caught up in this anymore. I’ve let you all know my thoughts and I won’t ever be covering or watching any of this circus on youtube.
Horschel won this event last year when holding his nerve with only one shot to spare over a host of contenders so knows what it takes more than almost everyone to take on this challenging West Course, he made it look so easy.
He already has seven Top 20 finishes this year including a victory at The Memorial Tournament just a few months back. Along with that he also finished runner-up at the Arnold Palmer Invitational so he arrives here in perfect condition to defend his title.
I can inform you about a whole host of stats and figures on both the PGA and DP World Tours in the Top 10 but the one I’m going to hit you with should be ample. Billy Horschel is ranked 1st on the DP World Tour this year for Greens in Regulation at 78.61%, that’s phenomenal figures and that could be the clue right there as Billy Horschel successfully defends his crown with another famous victory at Wentworth.
Jon Rahm
For my next pick, I’m going to recommend Jon Rahm 17/2 10Bet. The ever-talented 27-year-old Spaniard from Barrika ticks all my boxes for this event and he is overdue another title having bagged fourteen already including a major.
Six of those victories were on the DP World Tour and Rahm still clearly enjoys his participation on this tour which takes him to his homeland a couple of times every year. The world number six has only entered this event once but finished runner-up in 2019 so will be looking to go one better this year.
The 2021 US Open champion probably hasn’t been firing on all cylinders this year but looking at his form I’d say different. In the eighteen events entered, he has a victory when winning the Mexico Open and also runner up spot at the Sentry Tournament of Champions. Another worth a mention was 3rd at the Farmers Insurance Open.
All in all, Rahm has twelve Top 20 finishes this year with eight of them being Top10s. On the stats front, Rahm is another who boasts good figures but the one I’m going to concentrate on is SG Off The Tee where he ranks 1st on the PGA Tour. I suppose I should include the 2nd for Driving Distance All Drives, oh and maybe I should include 3rd for Greens in Regulation at 71.59%.
Honestly, I could go on and on with lots more decent figures but this is Jon Rahm we are talking about who on his day and if bringing the form we all know he is capable of, then this truly remarkable golfer could run away with this, we’ll maybe not run away with it but certainly lay his mark with his fifteenth victory in total when he adds the BMW PGA Championship to the bag this weekend at Wentworth.
For my final selection, it’s the customary match bet and for this week's Nap I’m really liking the look of the in-form Eddie Pepperell to beat Alexander Bjork over 72 holes so I’m going to make it another 5pts Super Banker Nap 4/5 Bet365
BMW PGA Championship Betting Tips
- Matthew Fitzpatrick 12/1 EW 1-8 places Skybet
- Billy Horschel 28/1 EW SportNation
- Jon Rahm 17/2 10Bet
- Eddie Pepperell to beat Alexander Bjork over 72 holes
