The BMW PGA Championship: The flagship event of the European Tour season. Crowds crammed into Wentworth's iconic grounds in sweltering heat like sardines in a sauna. On Saturday I joined them, and here's what happened.

The McIlroy Effect

Many of my fellow sardines appeared only interested in one man. Fortunately for them, the interest was clearly mutual as Rory McIlroy greeted one spectator with a suspected broken arm and another with a bloodied face. Oh, and he managed to catch a marshal with an errant ball for good measure. My decision to follow Francesco Molinari and Kiradech Aphibarnat instead of McIlroy was based more on anticipation of quality golf than a fear of stray golf balls, but it paid off in more ways than one.

With the Northern Irishman in possession of a three-stroke lead at -12 and his nearest competitors a couple of relative unknowns in Sam Horsfield and Sebastian Gros, I can only imagine that the on-screen statistics in the Championship Village of his poor record when leading after 36 holes was designed more to convince people the tournament was still worth watching than to deter people from playing follow the leader. However, that's exactly what it did for me.

Marvellous Molinari

Watching Molinari on Saturday was an absolute treat. Seemingly incapable of putting a foot wrong, the Italian oozed class. He was blissfully unaware of McIlroy's struggles, but continued to track down the World No. 6 with a flawless 66. A wayward approach shot left him with a tricky chip over the water on the 18th, but he executed it to perfection to make par in style. He may have usurped the fan-favourite, but he managed to win those fans over in the process. A deserving winner.

Ryder Cup Ready

Bearing in mind that there was still another round to play in the tournament, as Molinari approached the 18th green on Saturday the crowd was already abuzz with talk of his Ryder Cup ranking. The announcement of Team Europe's vice-captains earlier in the week and the start of the accelerated ranking points (all points earned are now multiplied by 1.5 until Made in Denmark) clearly had people excited, and with newly-appointed vice-captains Graeme McDowell and Lee Westwood entering the weekend at -6 and -5 respectively, the crowds were excited. On Saturday, Westwood moved to -8 and T7 with his second round of 69 on the bounce to really get people talking.

Are You Not Entertained?

There are few golf tournaments with the same level of interaction and entertainment for fans. The Championship Village offered a variety of games and experiences, including a 100-foot putt challenge and the chance to win a trip to Seychelles by watching the golf from a bed (don't ask!), and performances from Rudimental and Simple Minds to close out Saturday and Sunday respectively. Combine that with great golf and you have yourself one of the most popular events on the European Tour calendar.

What's in the Bag - Francesco Molinari

Driver: TaylorMade M4

3-Wood: TaylorMade M3

5-Wood: TaylorMade M4

Irons: TaylorMade P790

Wedges: TaylorMade Milled Grind

Putter: Bettinardi Dass BBZero

Golf Ball: Titleist Pro V1x

Written by Joe Carabini

joe.carabini@foremostgolf.com

How time flies! It seems like yesterday I was sat here writing about the 2017 D+D Real Czech Masters kicking off Team Europe's qualification campaign. Now, Thomas BjØrn has his entourage. Robert Karlsson will be joined by Luke Donald, Padraig Harrington, Graeme McDowell and Lee Westwood as Team Europe Vice-Captains.

Much has been made of the foursome's golfing prowess (two Major champions and two former World Number Ones), but the wealth of Ryder Cup experience (and successful experience, crucially) is what will concern those on the other side of the pond. These are men who know how to win the Ryder Cup. That said, all bar Donald have tasted defeat as part of Team Europe in the past. It may not have been in their minds at the time, but those defeats could very well have helped the cases of Westwood, Harrington and McDowell as BjØrn assessed his options.

On top of the Vice-Captains announcement, the BMW PGA Championship at Wentworth this week signals the beginning of the inflated points system. From this week through to August's Made in Denmark, points for European Tour events will be multiplied by 1.5 on the World Points List and the European Points List.

There's plenty of time to go, but there's certainly reason to get excited as BjØrn & Co. prepare Team Europe's attempt to regain the title.

Written by Joe Carabini

joe.carabini@foremostgolf.com

The European Tour returns to Surrey’s iconic Wentworth Club for the showpiece BMW PGA Championship. Serving as a curtain-raiser for the return of the lucrative Rolex Series, this year’s tournament holds added importance for the field. But that won’t stop them having plenty of fun, with a star-studded Celebrity Pro-Am featuring legends of football, rugby, cricket, television and more as well as plenty of activities for fans in the Championship Village. Perhaps most intriguingly, a BMW i8 Roadster will sit in the grandstand waiting to be awarded to any player who manages an albatross on the West Course’s par-5, 521-yard 18^th; tempting players to go for broke around the water-surrounded green.

Headline Acts

World No. 8 Rory McIlroy and World No. 10 Paul Casey headline this week’s event, with last year’s winner Alex Noren joining Race to Dubai champion Tommy Fleetwood, Branden Grace, Francesco Molinari and Ian Poulter in a mouth-watering field.

The Course

Wentworth Club has been closed for renovation since last year’s tournament, with brand spanking new greens playing a lot faster than in previous years. Twenty-nine bunkers have been removed as part of an attempt to make the course more playable, which should lead to lower scores than previous years.

Favourites

Unsurprisingly Rory McIlroy heads the bookies’ list at 15/2, with Paul Casey, Tommy Fleetwood, Alex Noren and Branden Grace just behind on 14/1.

Paul Casey’s recent missed cut at the RBC Heritage was his first in over a year. The 2009 champion has only managed one victory in that period, at the 2018 Valspar Championship, but Mr Consistent looks a nailed-on Top 10 finisher. An impressive T7 at THE PLAYERS Championship last time out will have Fleetwood brimming with confidence despite missing the cut here in 2017. Alex Noren hasn’t won since his title here last year, making him a risk at that price. Branden Grace’s T3 at the At&T Byron Nelson last week combines with his outstanding putting ability to give him a chance here.

I think this revamped course will force the best golf out of Rory McIlroy. He has the wow-factor and as other players struggle to come to grips with course changes I can see the superstar emerging to shoot a low score. The accelerated greens will be a test, but one I believe he will overcome.

It’s a tough tournament to call, but they're always the best. We’ll surely be entertained with elite golf, an awesome Pro-Am, live music and all sorts of activities at the European Tour HQ.

Written by Joe Carabini

joe.carabini@foremostgolf.com

Simpson Steals Sawgrass Show

Nobody would have predicted Webb Simpson strolling to victory at TPC Sawgrass. Well, not until he started Sunday seven strokes clear. Without a win in five years, the American was hardly a frontrunner, but a course record-equalling 63 on Friday, sandwiched between a 66 and 68, left the rest of the field chasing second spot. Whilst we always want to see a tournament of this magnitude go down to the wire, Simpson played three days of beautiful golf (and one day of understandably safe golf). A deserving champion.

Sunday Stories

Despite Simpson's commanding lead, Sunday was no dead rubber. Brooks Kopeka struck just the fourth albatross in PLAYERS history on the par-5 16th as he charged to the second course record-equalling round of the tournament, matching Webb Simpson's 63.

But the big story of the day was Tiger Woods, who went 72-71 to scrape inside the CUT with nothing to spare. He then roared to a seven-under 65 on Saturday to make things interesting. Like I said, the title was all-but decided before Sunday, but if one man could change that it was Tiger Woods on a hot streak. Tiger struck six birdies in twelve to raise a few eyebrows, although a bogey at the fourteenth killed off any hope. A double-bogey at the seventeenth reminded us that he's still not quite there yet- or not mentally at least- but a highly respectable -11 for T11 leaves us wondering what next.

Foremost Shortlist

Jason Day, Justin Thomas and Henrik Stenson.

Day topped the list with a solid week of golf which left him in T5 at -13; one stroke off Charl Schwartzel, Jimmy Walker & Xander Schauffele at T2. The Aussie once again putted sublimely and looked set for more after an eagle on the 9th put him four-under at the turn on Sunday, but nine consecutive pars on the home stretch still left him looking good for the week.

After opening with a one-over 73, Justin Thomas improved day-by-day in shooting 70-68-66 en route to -11. That opening round 73 included five birdies, but an erratic showing also produced four bogeys and a double. But whilst the early wobble cost him a shot at the tournament, a late wobble from Dustin Johnson did hand Thomas the World No. 1 spot. Things could be worse.

Henrik Stenson went below par every day as he finished -9 for T23. He looked good after opening with 68 but failed to kick on as the rest of the field posted low numbers over the weekend. Still, consistent and respectable in typical Stenson fashion.

Webb Simpson - What's in the Bag?

Driver: Titleist 917 D2

3 Wood: TaylorMade M2

5 Wood: Titleist 913

Hybrid: Titleist 913

Irons: Titleist 718 MB

Wedges: Titleist Vokey SM7

Putter: Odyssey Tank Cruiser V-Line

Golf Ball: Titleist Pro V1

Plenty of talking points as always from THE PLAYERS Championship, with Tiger looking more like Tiger than he has in years, the crowning of a new World No. 1 and one of the most impressive wins in PLAYERS history.

Written by Joe Carabini

joe.carabini@foremostgolf.com

"It is one of the toughest tests in golf, with potentially the best field in golf."

Nobody knows how to win a major better than Jordan Spieth, and nobody knows how hard it is to win THE PLAYERS Championship better than Jordan Spieth. When quizzed about pal Rickie Fowler's absent major title, Spieth cited the Californian's 2015 PLAYERS title, saying "essentially he's won what's harder to win than a major". No marketing team in the world can give you a better advert for this tournament than Jordan Spieth just did.

The Groupings

As a spectator you really couldn't ask for a better field. The marquee grouping of Tiger Woods, Phil Mickelson & Rickie Fowler has everybody overlooking the grouping of Rory McIlory, Justin Thomas & Jordan Spieth. However, I think you're most likely to find your winner in the group of Jason Day, Henrik Stenson & Sergio Garcia. Day looks set to produce another dominant run of results similar to the one that culminated in his 2016 title at TPC Sawgrass, whilst 2009 champion Henrik Stenson is in great form and suits this course down to the ground. Whilst I don't fancy Garcia's chances this year, he has posted two runners-up (2007, 2015) and a victory (2008) here, so only a fool would write him off.

The Course

TPC Sawgrass is a course that tests just about every aspect of a player's game. Consistency from tee-to-green is an enviable trait in any golf tournament, but this is perhaps the most diverse course on Tour. It does not favour a powerhouse like Tony Finau any more than a confident putter like Sam Burns unless they can raise the rest of their game to the same standard.

Stat's the Ticket

I mentioned Finau because he is No. 2 in driving distance and Sam Burns because he is No. 3 in Strokes Gained (SG): Putting, but neither ranks in the Top 5 for any other aspect of the game. Sure, statistics don't tell the full story, but they do give a raw representation of a player's game. Jason Day, Justin Thomas and Henrik Stenson are the loudest names in the PGA Tour statistics, so it's no surprise that they all rank in the Top 5 for SG: Total (1st, 4th & 5th respectively).

Predictions

Don't be fooled by last year's tournament, this is not a place for upsets. The world's Top 50 golfers are not easily beaten. Day and McIlroy top the bookies' list (14/1) and I think Day is onto something big at the moment, but McIlroy's game isn't where it needs to be for me. Spieth & Thomas (16/1) and Dustin Johnson (18/1) aren't far behind, but with Spieth missing three consecutive cuts and DJ out-of-form Thomas is the only man there worth his price. Skipping over a few big names, my shout for the week is Henrik Stenson at a massive 28/1. He's a past champion in great form with the stats in his favour and he's due a win.

It really is as open as any golf tournament in the world, but that's my shortlist: Jason Day, Justin Thomas and Henrik Stenson.

Expect some major golf this week at TPC Sawgrass.

Credit: @PGATOUR - Official Twitter account of the PGA Tour

Written by Joe Carabini

joe.carabini@foremostgolf.com

Day Wins Wells Fargo

Jason Day returned to the World Top 10 with victory at the Wells Fargo Championship on Sunday, and just in time for THE PLAYERS Championship.

The Aussie may have won, but he did it the hard way (as per usual) by blowing a three-stroke lead before birdies at the 16th & 17th sealed a two-stroke victory to put certain demons to bed. Day described the hard-fought win as feeling like he "went ten rounds out there just fighting against myself"; a telling reflection of personal struggles both on and off the golf course.

The "Fifth Major"

His second win of 2018 has earned Day a spot as the joint-bookmakers' favourite, along with Rory McIlroy, Jordan Spieth & Justin Thomas. Whilst the pressure of expectation has historically been more a curse than a blessing for Day, it is testament to his apparent resurgence since falling from the top of the world rankings at the close of 2016.

21-year-old Korean Kim Si-Woo upset the odds to win last year's tournament, but that is unusual at TPC Sawgrass with then-World No. 1 Jason Day winning in 2016, Rickie Fowler in 2015, Martin Kaymer in 2014 (prior to winning the U.S. Open), Tiger Woods in 2013 and Matt Kuchar in 2012. In other words, you have to have some serious ability and form to win here.

Ones to Watch

One name that jumps out at me is Henrik Stenson. Form is definitely important here and his run of 4-T6-T5 at the Arnold Palmer, Houston Open & Masters means he is red-hot right now. He also crops up at the right end of just about every PGA Tour statistic. On a nicely balanced course, his well-rounded game means his 28/1 price is very, very good.

Justin Thomas looks very good across the board on the PGA Tour, so I expect a big week from him. Like Stenson, his ability in every department means he is suited to the balanced course in Ponte Vedra.

Spieth's game should suit this course well, but his T4 debut in 2014 is the only time he has made the cut at TPC Sawgrass, which tells me something is fundamentally wrong there. That said, he can never be written off.

People continue to back Rory because, well, surely he has to win a big tournament again at some point. Right? He won the Arnold Palmer Invitational and finished T5 at the Masters, so there's definitely reason for optimism.

Patrick Reed's form since his Masters victory has been solid, but I don't seen him taking the title. Dustin Johnson is usually good for a top 10, but I don't fancy him this year. Rickie Fowler has only finished better than T60 twice; a 2015 win and a 2012 T2, so he is the definition of a wildcard. I wouldn't bank on him showing up.

We'll Be Back

Still not sure who you fancy? No need to panic, we'll be back with more tomorrow to clear everything up.

Written by Joe Carabini

joe.carabini@foremostgolf.com