New-look Wentworth is in for a treat
THE PGA Championship at Wentworth is always an occasion to savour but Ernie Els’ remodelling of the West Course will make this year’s event all the more intriguing.
Ernie is back at the iconic Surrey course this week bidding to win this for the first time – and the form he’s in at the moment, you wouldn’t bet against him.
His third place in the Texas Open at the weekend showed he’s back at the top of his game after his two PGA Tour wins earlier in the season.
But with such a high-class field to compete against, he knows he’ll have his work cut out. New world No3 Lee Westwood is in town, as is Ian Poulter, defending champion Paul Casey and Rory McIlroy, who also make up the world’s top 10.
Westwood’s achievement in rising from 243 to three is incredible. He’s had a fantastic year, coming so close in the Masters and the Players’ Championship, and he would dearly love to continue that with victory at Wentworth.
Els battled well for his share of third in Texas, but it was nice to see Adam Scott claim a first PGA Tour success since 2008.
Adam has got one of the best swings on the circuit and it played beautifully for his 66 and 67 in a 36-hole final day after a tornado washed out Friday’s play.
Fredrik Jacobsen missed a 15-footer on the final green to miss out on a play-off, but there was no such misfortune for his fellow Swede, Peter Hanson, who overcame a one-shot penalty for a double hit to win the Majorcan Open.
WORLD RANKINGS | THE TOP TEN
1 Tiger Woods (USA) 10.79pts
2 Phil Mickelson (USA) 9.53
3 Lee Westwood (Eng) 7.71
4 Steve Stricker (USA) 7.69
5 Jim Furyk (USA) 6.93
6 Ian Poulter (Eng) 6.01
7 Ernie Els (SA) 5.83
8 Paul Casey (Eng) 5.68
9 Rory McIlroy (NIR) 5.37
10 Anthony Kim (USA) 5.08