The DP World Tour takes centre stage this week as the flagship BMW PGA Championship gets underway at Wentworth.
Dating as far back as 1955, it is perhaps the most prestigious event on the circuit. Past champions in the likes of Tony Jacklin, Arnold Palmer, Sir Nick Faldo, Seve Ballesteros, Bernhard Langer and Collin Montgomerie certainly attest to that, with one member destined to join elite company later this week.
Billy Horschel carded a final round 65 last year to finish one shot clear of Kiradech Aphibarnrat, Laurie Canter and Jamie Donaldson and overtake overnight leader Francesco Laporta. In doing so, Horschel became just the second American to win the illustrious tournament – joining The King, Arnold Palmer.
The 35-year-old returns to Wentworth this year in a bid to become the first player since Ryder Cup captain Luke Donald in 2012 to successfully defend the title.
This week’s field boasts 13 of the top-50 in the Official World Golf Ranking, including recently-crowned FedEx Cup champion Rory McIlroy. The Northern Irishman, who was recently named a PGA Tour Player of the Year candidate, will tee it up for the first time since his success at East Lake.
Former World No.1 Jon Rahm is also present in the field and will be joined by this year’s US Open champion, Matt Fitzpatrick. The European duo will tee it up alongside Norwegian Viktor Hovland, who is fancied by many this week.
The golfing world has been dominated by the emergence of LIV Golf in recent months, with the Saudi-backed venture and the two established eco-systems now going head-to-head in the courtroom.
The DP World Tour denied its members release requests to play in the inaugural event at the Centurion Club in June and issued a three-tournament suspension alongside a £100,000 fine to those that disobeyed. Ian Poulter spearheaded a legal challenge and had the suspension “temporarily stayed” – the subsequent injunction placed on the DP World Tour prevents it from suspending LIV Golf players until the outcome of the hearing, which is reportedly set for February 2023.
As a direct result many…
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