Preview: BMW PGA Championship, West Course Wentworth England

The European Tour heads to England this week for the BMW PGA Championship at Wentworth’s revamped West Course starting 20th – 23rd May 2010.

The West Course has been renovated and this tournement will be its first play.

The designer for the course adjustments was none other than Ernie Els, who with a little help from his team – managed to complete ambitious work on schedule, which included enhancing of all the 18 greens, an extension to the water feature in front of the 8th green plus building a new water hazard in front of the 18th green.

Els says “My personal view is that the changes we’ve made have enhanced this wonderful golf course in every conceivable way.”

“Aesthetically, strategically and perhaps most significantly in the quality of the playing surfaces, especially the greens, which will perform and putt as well as anything you’ll see on The European Tour.”

The world number six owns a property at Wentworth that backs onto the 16th hole on the West Course, and is reported to have recently accepted a role as Wentworth touring professional.

South African Els told a news conference on Tuesday “It does make a huge difference being at home” as he prepared for his eighth European Tour event of the year.

Padraig Harrington said “I’m very impressed with the changes that have been made and I’m happy to see the way the greens are now putting.”

Unlike the last few European Tour events, a strong field is expected at Wentworth this week with five of the top-10 players in the world attending – Lee Westwood, Ian Poulter, Paul Casey, Ernie Els and young Rory McIlroy.

Past Winners:
The European Tour has hosted the tournement at Wentworth’s West Course since 1984, and during this time there have been some famous winners including Sir Nick Faldo, Seve Ballesteros and Bernhard Langer to name but a few.

Last year, Paul Casey claimed his first PGA Championship title with a 17 under par round – and this year intends to defend it, against a class field on the new-look West Course.

Players to Follow:
Resident Ernie Els – currently number 6 in the world and is responsible for the course adjustments and will know the layout better than anyone in the field.
Lee Westwood – althhough the young Englishman has noever won this event, Ian has played good golf this year and reached third on the Official World Golf Ranking a couple of weeks back.
Rory McIlroy – with exceptional talent, the young Northern Irishman could quite easily win this tournement.

Tricky Holes:
The 18th Hole – 539 yard par-5 is just about reachable in two, but the new water feature running in front of the green will make many players think twice, and will no doubt add to the drama.

TV Coverage:
Live golf coverage of the BMW PGA Championship will be shown all 4 days on Sky Sports.

Accommodation in England:
This golf event is set to be very exciting, and if you’re travelling from further afield or overseas – hotels in the area are likely to be expensive. Self catering holiday accommodation in England could prove to be a very good alternative option, but make sure you book early!

If finding somewhere closeby is not possible, don’t panic, and consider the possibility of booking holiday apartments in London or just outside the capital.

Default Author Bio:
Paul has travelled extensively for both business and pleasure throughout Europe with interests in managing holiday rentals in London and other forms of holiday homes in England. More recently Paul has travelled the Middle East witnessing the demand for buying and renting holiday rentals.

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