PGA pros gather for ultimate test

It’s not often you get the chance to pit your skills against the World No. 1 but 10 PGA pros will the chance this week when they line up in the BMW PGA Championship at Wentworth.

The Surrey venue has attracted a stellar field including Rory McIlroy, America’s Patrick Reed, Lee Westwood, Justin Rose, Martin Kaymer, Graeme McDowell and a host of other big names.

Among the PGA pro contingent is Chris Gane from nearby Silvermere who is relishing the chance of pitting his skills against the very best while Matt Ford has gained a tournament invite.

“I think if you are standing on the range with the likes of Rory McIlroy and Martin Kaymer there is always a buzz but you are there to play and compete and while admiring them you are hoping against hope you can beat them too,” he said.

“You always want to measure your game against the best and this is a chance for me to do that.”

Gane (above) was a regular visitor to the PGA Championship as a kid, paying his money to cheer on the stars of the day. The two time Challenge Tour winner only played the new look West Course off the back tees very recently and is excited by the challenge it will pose when he tees off on Thursday with friend and fellow PGA pro Ben May on his bag.

“I’d never played the new lay out off the back tees, only the front tees at company days and for want of a better word, it is a beast. You have to drive accurately, then the second shot is very demanding. It’s a course that highlights the weaknesses in your game. It’s tough but fair.”

While McIlroy will attract the biggest galleries, Gane is set to have his own mini fan club led by his two young sons. Neither were born the last time the left hander teed it up in the Tour spectacle (2002), but have already got the golfing bug and are eagerly looking forward to seeing their dad in action – not to mention the world number one.

“They are aged eight and five but already know the names of Rory and a few others who they are looking forward to seeing,” he added.

The ten PGA pros in the field - Niall Kearney (Royal Dublin), Jason Levermore (Channels), David Dixon (Enmore Park), Alex Belt (Snainton Golf Centre), Benn Barham (PGolfCoaching@Pedham), Greig Hutcheon (Paul Lawrie Golf Centre), Matt Cort (Beedles Lake), Richard O’ Hanlon (St Kew), Ian Ellis (Great Caister & Yarmouth) and Gane earned their spots at Wentworth via the PGA Play-Offs.

The leading PGA performer will receive a silver salver for the lowest score – presented by new PGA captain Nicky Lumb – but for all it will be a week that will live long in the memory.

In total nine Major Champions, who have accrued no fewer than 18 Majors between them, will be in action while memories of that spectacular Ryder Cup at Gleneagles should come flooding back at the sight of the aforementioned McIlroy and Reed being joined in competition by Thomas Bjørn, Rose, Kaymer, Victor Dubuisson, Jamie Donaldson, McDowell, Westwood and Stephen Gallacher.

Luke Donald, a back–to-back winner of the title in 2011 and 2012, returns in search of a third BMW PGA Championship, while long-time Wentworth exponents, Els and Westwood, will be chasing that elusive first win.

Two Ryder Cup captains are in attendance – Paul McGinley, who marshalled his troops with a brilliant strategist’s mind at Gleneagles - and 2011 Open Champion Darren Clarke, who picks up the baton to take to Hazeltine National in 20 months’ time.

Champions of the West Course abound. McIlroy and Donald are joined in that elite band of brothers by Matteo Manassero, PGA qualified Simon Khan, Miguel Angel Jiménez, David Howell, Anders Hansen, Scott Drummond and Ignacio Garrido.

All in all it’s a week not to be missed.

** Follow @ThePGA on Twitter during BMW PGA week as we keep track of the PGA pros taking part.