Hutch leads PGA charge at BMW

PGA No.1 Greig Hutcheon will head the posse of PGA pros teeing up against some of golf’s biggest names at the BMW PGA Championship.

The Scot secured his place at Wentworth after topping the Titleist PGA Play-Offs in Turkey last winter and goes into the 72-hole showpiece event buoyed by having made the cut last time out.

With a new attachment to the Paul Lawrie Golf Centre, Hutcheon is confident of holding his own against the likes of Rory McIlroy, Ian Poulter, Henrik Stenson and Ernie Els.

He has more than 100 Tour starts to his name including three Challenge Tour victories and despite passing 40 years of age believes he is playing nearly as well as ever and feels he could still compete at the highest level.

“I think the top guys are too good for me to be able to win on Tour but I still think in these big events there is no reason why I can’t get a top 10,” he said.

Also in action is Matt Ford who is currently in action on the Challenge Tour in Turkey while Matt Cort – three-time winner of the Powerade PGA Assistants’ Championship is also teeing it up.

Jason Levermore returns to the Surrey club where he made headlines last year with a hole-in-one. The Channels head pro’s ace on the second hole sparked jubilant celebrations because he thought he had won a £100,000 BMW Gran Coupe as a reward but it transpired the sports saloon was only up for grabs at the 14th.

All ten of the PGA representatives will be hoping to emulate David Higgins’ efforts a couple of years ago, when the Waterville pro clalimed a top ten finish.

Ian Ellis (Great Yarmouth & Caister) returns for another stab at making the cut while his east region peer Mark Hooper is also in action.

Glasgow’s Graham Fox  (Clydeway Golf) – part of the Great Britain & Ireland PGA Cup team alongside Hutcheon that fought back from a five point deficit to tie with America at Slaley Hall in September, is also on the field as is Chris Kelly.

Cawder pro Kelly is one of seven players who will receive the support of the Team Scottish Hydro scheme this year, becoming the first Tartan Tour professional to join the ranks.

Ballyliffin big hitter Damian Mooney carries Irish hopes while former European and Challenge Tour regular Liam Bond (Marriott St Pierre) completes the 10.

The action gets underway with the traditional celebrity pro-am on Wednesday, May 21 with lifelong Manchester United supporter McIlroy already celebrating after it was confirmed that he would be teaming up with three of his footballing heroes.

The Northern Irishman, one of the most exciting talents in the game, will be putting up a united front alongside Red Devils legends Peter Schmeichel ,Teddy Sheringham and current Manchester United coach Phil Neville. All three of the footballers were part of Sir Alex Ferguson’s glorious Treble winning side of 1999.

For McIlroy, who won the US Open in 2011 and USPGA Championship in 2012, playing alongside the United trio is a dream come true, “I’m really looking forward to a round of golf with a few of my Man United heroes, Peter Schmeichel, Teddy Sheringham and Phillip Neville. I believe they have some silky golfing skills, too!” said McIlroy. 

Keep up to date with how the 10 PGA pros fare at Wentworth through Twitter @ThePGA and Facebook.