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PGA European - BMW PGA Championship Preview
From The Sports Network
| DATES: Thursday, May 23rd through Sunday, May 26th |
| SITE: Wentworth Club (West Course), Surrey, England |
| COURSE ARCHITECT: Harry Colt (1926), Chris Kennedy (re-design, 2001), |
| Ernie Els (renovation, 2006, 2009-12) |
| Hole-By-Hole: | 1 - Par 4 473 Yds | 10 - Par 3 184 Yds | |
| 2 - Par 3 154 Yds | 11 - Par 4 416 Yds | |
| 3 - Par 4 465 Yds | 12 - Par 5 531 Yds | |
| 4 - Par 5 552 Yds | 13 - Par 4 470 Yds | |
| 5 - Par 3 203 Yds | 14 - Par 3 179 Yds | |
| 6 - Par 4 418 Yds | 15 - Par 4 489 Yds | |
| 7 - Par 4 396 Yds | 16 - Par 4 383 Yds | |
| 8 - Par 4 391 Yds | 17 - Par 5 610 Yds | |
| 9 - Par 4 449 Yds | 18 - Par 5 539 Yds | |
| ------------- | ------------- | |
| 35 3,501 Yds | 37 3,801 Yds | |
| Annual: | 57th |
| Television: | Golf Channel - Thursday/Friday -- 9 a.m.-12 p.m. (et), |
| | - Saturday/Sunday -- 9 a.m.-1 p.m. (et), |
| Defending Champion: | Luke Donald |
| Runner-Up: | Paul Lawrie |
| Tournament Record: | 266 (Brian Bamford, 1961) |
| 54-Hole Record: | 199 (Anders Hansen, 2002) |
| 36-Hole Record: | 131 (Paul McGinley, 2008) |
| Course Record: | 62 (Robert Karlsson, 2010) |
| Course Record in Relation to Par: | 63, -11 (Nick Job, 1973) |
| Total Purse: | $6,125,537 (4,750,000 euros) |
| Share: | 1st Place - $1,020,932; 2nd Place - $680,617; 3rd Place - $383,465 |
| 2012 Finish |
| Player | Score | Player | Score |
| Luke Donald | 273 | Richard Sterne | 282 |
| Paul Lawrie | 277 | Ernie Els | 283 |
| Justin Rose | 277 | Marcel Siem | 283 |
| Peter Lawrie | 280 | Francesco Molinari | 283 |
| Branden Grace | 281 | Five players at | 284 |
| Past BMW PGA Championship Winners |
| Year | Winner (Score) -- Runners-Up |
| 2012 | Luke Donald (273) -- Paul Lawrie, Justin Rose |
| 2011 | *Luke Donald (278) -- Lee Westwood |
| 2010 | Simon Khan (278) -- Luke Donald, Fredrik Andersson Hed |
| 2009 | Paul Casey (271) -- Ross Fisher |
| 2008 | *Miguel Angel Jimenez (277) -- Oliver Wilson |
| 2007 | *Anders Hansen (280) -- Justin Rose |
| 2006 | David Howell (271) -- Simon Khan |
| 2005 | Angel Cabrera (273) -- Paul McGinley |
| 2004 | Scott Drummond (269) -- Angel Cabrera |
| 2003 | *Ignacio Garrido (270) -- Trevor Immelman |
| 2002 | Anders Hansen (269) -- Eduardo Romero, Colin Montgomerie |
| 2001 | Andrew Oldcorn (272) -- Angel Cabrera |
| 2000 | Colin Montgomerie (271) -- Darren Clarke, Lee Westwood, Andrew Coltart |
| 1999 | Colin Montgomerie (270) -- Mark James |
| 1998 | Colin Montgomerie (274) -- Patrik Sjoland, Ernie Els, Gary Orr |
| 1997 | Ian Woosnam (275) -- Nick Faldo, Darren Clarke, Ernie Els |
| 1996 | Costantino Rocca (274) -- Nick Faldo, Paul Lawrie |
| 1995 | Bernhard Langer (279) -- Per-Ulrik Johansson, Michael Campbell |
| 1994 | Jose Maria Olazabal (271) -- Ernie Els |
| 1993 | Bernhard Langer (274) -- Gordon Brand Jr, Frank Nobilo, Colin |
| Montgomerie |
| 1992 | Tony Johnstone (272) -- Gordon Brand Jr, Jose Maria Olazabal |
| 1991 | *Seve Ballesteros (271) -- Colin Montgomerie |
| 1990 | Mike Harwood (271) -- John Bland, Nick Faldo |
| 1989 | Nick Faldo (272) -- Ian Woosnam |
| 1988 | Ian Woosnam (274) -- Seve Ballesteros, Mark James |
| 1987 | Bernhard Langer (270) -- Seve Ballesteros |
| 1986 | *Rodger Davis (281) -- Des Smyth |
| 1985 | *Paul Way (282) -- Sandy Lyle |
| 1984 | #Howard Clark (204) -- Gordon J. Brand, Bernhard Langer |
| 1983 | Seve Ballesteros (278) -- Ken Brown, Sandy Lyle |
| 1982 | *Tony Jacklin (284) -- Bernhard Langer |
| 1981 | Nick Faldo (274) -- Ken Brown, Neil Coles |
| 1980 | Nick Faldo (283) -- Ken Brown |
| 1979 | Vicente Fernandez (288) -- Gary Player, Baldovino Dassu |
| 1978 | Nick Faldo (278) -- Ken Brown |
| 1977 | Manuel Pinero (283) -- Peter Oosterhuis |
| 1976 | *Neil Coles (280) -- Eamonn Darcy, Gary Player |
| 1975 | Arnold Palmer (285) -- Eamonn Darcy |
| 1974 | Maurice Bembridge (278) -- Peter Oosterhuis |
| 1973 | Peter Oosterhuis (280) -- Dale Hayes, Donald Swaelens |
| 1972 | Tony Jacklin (279) -- Peter Oosterhuis |
| 1971 | Not Held |
| 1970 | Not Held |
| 1969 | Bernard Gallacher (293) |
| 1968 | David Talbot (276) |
| 1967 | Peter Townsend (275) |
| 1966 | Brian Huggett (271) |
| 1965 | *Peter Alliss (286) -- Peter Butler |
| 1964 | A.G.Grubb (287) |
| 1963 | Peter Butler (306) |
| 1962 | Peter Alliss (287) |
| 1961 | Brian Bamford (266) |
| 1960 | @A.F.Stickley (247) |
| 1959 | Dai Rees (283) |
| 1958 | Harry Bradshaw (287) |
| 1957 | Peter Alliss (286) |
| 1956 | *C.H.Ward (282) -- Eric Brown |
| 1955 | Ken Bousfield (277) |
| # - Rain Shortened (54 holes) |
| @ - Rain Shortened (63 holes) |
| Note:Formerly known as Schweppes Open (1967-69), Viyella PGA Championship |
|
(1972-74), Penfold PGA Championship (1975-77), Colgate PGA Championship
(1978-79), Sun Alliance PGA Championship (1980-83), Whyte & Mackey
PGA Championship (1984-87), Volvo PGA Championship (1988-2004),
BMW Championship (2005-06).
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| Top Contenders in the Field |
| Player | 2003 | 2004 | 2005 | 2006 | 2007 | 2008 | 2009 | 2010 | 2011 | 2012 |
| Luke Donald | --- | --- | T-18 | T-25 | 7th | T-3 | T-35 | T-2 | Won | Won |
| Paul Lawrie | mc | T-67 | T-33 | T-37 | mc | T-22 | T-32 | T-6 | mc | T-2 |
| Justin Rose | T-32 | T-11 | --- | --- | 2nd | mc | --- | T-10 | mc | T-2 |
| Ernie Els | 4th | 7th | T-39 | T-19 | T-24 | mc | T-21 | T-34 | T-16 | T-7 |
| Francesco Molinari | --- | --- | --- | mc | T-30 | mc | T-35 | T-17 | T-50 | T-7 |
| Alvaro Quiros | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | mc | T-16 | mc | T-18 | T-10 |
| Ian Poulter | mc | T-52 | T-33 | mc | mc | --- | --- | mc | T-18 | T-10 |
| Martin Kaymer | --- | --- | --- | --- | T-30 | T-16 | T-11 | mc | T-31 | T-15 |
| F. Andersson Hed | mc | T-71 | mc | --- | T-24 | mc | --- | T-2 | 61st | T-18 |
| Robert Rock | T-23 | T-47 | --- | --- | mc | --- | T-16 | T-34 | T-45 | T-21 |
| Simon Khan | --- | T-24 | mc | 2nd | T-24 | T-10 | mc | Won | mc | T-27 |
| Lee Westwood | mc | mc | T-27 | mc | T-12 | wd | mc | T-10 | 2nd | T-33 |
| Miguel A. Jimenez | mc | T-8 | T-56 | 3rd | T-5 | Won | T-43 | mc | mc | T-39 |
| Matteo Manassero | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | T-17 | T-7 | T-43 |
| Edoardo Molinari | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | mc | T-39 | T-49 |
| Thongchai Jaidee | T-64 | 55th | T-11 | mc | T-8 | T-30 | T-43 | T-13 | T-24 | T-56 |
| Colin Montgomerie | T-9 | T-47 | T-11 | T-53 | T-30 | mc | T-35 | T-48 | T-7 | 72nd |
| Anders Hansen | T-53 | T-4 | mc | mc | Won | T-40 | T-21 | T-71 | T-18 | mc |
| Paul Casey | T-9 | T-37 | mc | T-11 | T-12 | T-10 | Won | T-17 | T-24 | mc |
| Rory McIlroy | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | mc | 5th | T-48 | T-24 | mc |
| Ignacio Garrido | Won | T-52 | mc | T-47 | T-30 | T-63 | T-64 | mc | T-24 | mc |
| David Howell | mc | T-47 | 4th | Won | --- | T-63 | T-72 | T-61 | T-39 | mc |
| Graeme McDowell | mc | T-27 | T-27 | T-47 | mc | 57th | T-13 | T-28 | mc | mc |
| Nicolas Colsaerts | --- | T-58 | --- | T-35 | --- | --- | --- | 78th | mc | mc |
| Scott Drummond | --- | Won | T-11 | mc | mc | mc | T-54 | mc | mc | mc |
| Sergio Garcia | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Peter Uihlein | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Sports Network Selections |
| Pick to Win - Lee Westwood |
| Darkhorse - Thongchai Jaidee |
| |
| Last Week's Pick to Win - World Match Play (N.Colsaerts) - Lost in |
| Last Week's Darkhorse - World Match Play (K.Aphibarnrat) - Lost in 2nd Round |
| |
| Last Week's Pick to Win - Madeira Islands (R.Derksen) - Finished tied for 19th |
| Last Week's Darkhorse - Madeira Islands (P.Whiteford) - Finished tied for 24th |
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| NOTES: |
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The marquee event on the European Tour, the BMW PGA Championship, takes center
stage this week, as players take aim at the 4.75 million euro purse at
Wentworth Club. This tournament boasts a fine field of seven of the top-17
players in the world rankings, led by Rory McIlroy, Justin Rose, two-time
defending champion Luke Donald and Graeme McDowell.
World No. 2 McIlroy is still looking for his first victory of the season after
a superb 2012. He has played better lately, finishing in the top 10 in his
last two events on the PGA Tour, and has made six straight cuts.
McDowell is coming off a victory last week at the Volvo World Match Play
Championship. He also won this year on the PGA Tour at the RBC Heritage and
has moved up to No. 7 in the world rankings.
Colin Montgomerie has dominated this event with 13 top-10s and a tournament-
best 42 rounds in the 60s. Montgomerie is a three-time winner (1998-2000) and
has been runner-up three times since 1991.
This tournament has been held at the Wentworth Club since 1984. The Wentworth
Club used to play host to the World Match Play Championship from 1964-2007.
The prize fund of 4.75 million euros is the biggest purse on the 2013 European
Tour outside of the major championships, World Golf Championships and the
season-ending Dubai World Championship.
Last year, Luke Donald reclaimed the top spot in the world rankings with a
comfortable victory. In 2011, Donald bested then world No. 1 Lee Westwood in a
playoff to become first in the rankings for the first time. In 2012, Donald
returned to the top spot occupied for several weeks by McIlroy. Donald won by
four shots over Paul Lawrie and Rose at 15-under 273. He posted four rounds in
the 60s and joined Sir Nick Faldo and Montgomerie as the only players to
successfully defend their titles in event history.
Donald became the ninth player to win this tournament on multiple
occasions, joining Faldo (1978, 80-81, 89), Peter Alliss (1957, 62, 65),
Bernhard Langer (1987, 93, 95), Montgomerie (1998-2000), Tony Jacklin (1972,
82), Seve Ballesteros (1983, 91), Ian Woosnam (1988, 97) and Anders
Hansen (2002, 07).
In 2010, Simon Khan fired a 5-under 66 in the final round to overcome a 7-
stroke deficit and win. Khan finished at 6-under 278 and won by a stroke
over Donald and Fredrik Andersson Hed. Khan was not only a sponsor's
exemption, but was only notified three days prior to the tournament that he
would be in the field. Khan became the first European Tour Qualifying School
graduate to win this event the year after graduation. It was Khan's second
European Tour title after he won the 2004 Celtic Manor Wales Open. Robert
Karlsson set the course record in the third round with a 9-under 62 and tied
for 13th place.
Hansen birdied the first playoff hole in 2007 to defeat Rose. The win
was Hansen's second at this event after taking the 2002 title. That was his
only other victory on the European Tour prior to his playoff win in 2007.
Scott Drummond fired an 8-under 64 in the final round to hold off the
competition for his maiden European Tour title in 2004. Drummond, who finished
at 19-under-par 269, joined Hansen (2002) as the only players to earn their
first career titles at this tournament.
Faldo is a four-time winner and has 13 top-10s. He holds the record for most
sub-par rounds with 70, followed by Montgomerie with 60 and Sandy Lyle with
52. Langer (1987) and Howard Clark (1984) are the only players in event
history to win wire-to-wire with no ties. Only eight players have posted all
four rounds in the 60s and won, with Donald being the last to accomplish the
feat in 2012.
Bernard Gallacher was the youngest winner at 20 years and 97 days when he
titled here in 1969, while Dai Rees was the oldest at 46 years and 10 days in
1959.
The European Tour travels to Sweden next week for the Nordea Masters in
Stockholm, where Westwood won in 2012.
05/21 14:45:06 ET
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As of May 21, 2013, at 02:45 PM ET
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