BMW PGA Championship predictions: Horschel targets second Surrey title

Wentworth Club is once again the venue for the BMW PGA Championship this week — the flagship event on the DP World Tour — and a stellar field will descend upon Virginia Water, Surrey from Thursday to Sunday.

This is the fourth and penultimate Rolex Series event of the season and the tournament's elevated status has attracted some of the biggest names in golf to South East England, with 2014 champion Rory McIlroy the 6/1 favourite with LiveScore Bet.

Spaniard Jon Rahm, who shared second with McIlroy 12 months ago, follows closely behind at 7/1, the same price as 2023 FedEx Cup champion Viktor Hovland.

All 12 of Europe's 2023 Ryder Cup team will be in action, including Swedish sensation Ludvig Aberg (25/1) and fellow rookies Sepp Straka (40/1), Nicolai Hojgaard (40/1) and Robert MacIntyre (66/1).

Irishman Shane Lowry, who claimed the spoils last year in the reduced 54-hole tournament, is priced at 18/1 with LiveScore Bet and sits alongside Englishman Matt Fitzpatrick in the betting.

It has been well over a year since Billy Horschel last tasted victory but there have been promising signs over the last couple of months, with a T13 finish at the 3M Open followed by a fourth-place at the Wyndham Championship.

The American found himself in the mix going into the final round of the Irish Open on Sunday, only to then fall away on the back nine, but those errors after the turn can be forgiven given the fact he had to make something happen.

Horschel has had three cracks at the BMW PGA and after ending up fourth on debut in 2019, he returned in 2021 to claim a one-shot victory before finishing a respectable ninth on his defence. 

Therefore, a fourth outing at this course could be just what is needed to get him back in the winners' circle.

Nicolai Hojgaard will be teeing it up for the first time since being named in Europe's Ryder Cup team and he arrives in Surrey in excellent form, having followed a third at the Czech Masters with a T5 at the European Masters.

The Dane is one of the best drivers of the ball, ranking second in strokes gained: off-the tee, while his tee-to-green game is unrivalled as he tops strokes gained in that department.

Add in the fact the 22-year-old is third in greens in regulation and 16th in putts per GIR, and he looks to have a great chance of lifting the trophy come Sunday evening.

Rounding off the selections is Nathan Kimsey and his accurate play could make him a serious contender on a course that will punish you for not finding the fairway.

The 30-year-old Englishman is second in driving accuracy and fifth in GIR, so there are no concerns about his ability from tee-to-green, while his ranking of 18th in scrambling is also a bonus should he fail to hit the dancefloor.