The attention of the golfing world crosses the Atlantic following the conclusion of the FedEx Series with the Tour Championship, with the West Course at Wentworth in south-west London hosting the BMW PGA Championship.
This is the final qualifying tournament for the European Ryder Cup team, and a number of players will feel the need to do well to catch the eye of captain Padraig Harrington.
Favourite for the event, starting on Thursday, is the Viktor Hovland. We’re big fans of the young Norwegian, and he closed the Tour Championship with a 65 last weekend, but we’re hesitant to tip him given he was in the heat of the battle on Sunday and has precious little rest since.
Tyrrell Hatton is the defending champion, but he has been short of form of late, missing three of his last four cuts. Similarly Matthew Fitzpatrick missed the cuts at The Northern Trust and the Italian Open, his last two events.
Instead we’re going to side with Shane Lowry. The Irishman is desperate to make his first Ryder Cup and has been playing very well of late, including eighth Players Championship, ninth in the RBC Heritage, fourth in the US PGA Championship, sixth in the Memorial and 12th in the Open.
He didn’t quite qualify for the Tour Championship, but that meant he could return to Dublin in time for the birth of his second child last week. He has a great record at Wentworth, finishing in the top 15 in eight of his last ten appearances, and should approach this tournament full of cheer.
Our each way selection is Henrik Stenson. The Swedish veteran knows he needs to put on a strong showing if a sixth Ryder Cup is to be a possibility, but he has a chance. He was fourth in the Czech Masters, third in the European Masters and 15th in the Italian Open, suggesting he’s in form, and should be accurate off the tee given his reliance on the 3-wood.
Recommendations:
Lowry to win, 1 pt, at 16/1, widely available
Stenson 0.5 pts each way at 40/1, 1/5 the odds for the first 8 places, SkyBet
