The DP World Tour returns to England this week for the 2022 Betfred British Masters hosted by Danny Willett, staged at The Belfry’s renowned Brabazon Course for a second consecutive year.
Willett is joined by defending champion Richard Bland, Lee Westwood, Robert MacIntyre and Adri Arnaus, who arrives fresh from winning his maiden Tour title at the Catalunya Championship last week, in a strong field. But who will be crowned champion?
If you haven’t already, you can sign up now to the official Fantasy Game of the DP World Tour and submit your six-man team before round one on Thursday: https://fantasy.dpworldtour.com/
The favourite – Robert MacIntyre
Robert MacIntyre is bidding to become the first Scottish winner of the tournament since Gary Orr in 2000 and his record in his previous appearances would suggest he stands a great chance of doing so this year.
The 25-year-old, ranked 73rd on the Official World Ranking, carded five birdies in his first five holes on his way to a 66 at The Belfry in the second round last year as he finished tied eighth, while an eagle-birdie finish in the final round at Hillside in 2019 saw him share second place on his tournament debut.
He is also ranked tenth for ‘Average Putts Per Round’ on the DP World Tour this season and finished in the top ten of the Ras al Khaimah Classic, while he made his eighth consecutive cut in Major Championships at the Masters Tournament last month.
Form horse - Oliver Bekker
Oliver Bekker was made to wait for his maiden DP World Tour title after he lost a six-hole play-off to home favourite Adri Arnaus at the Catalunya Championship on Sunday.
Bekker, 37, also finished tied third at the Steyn City Championship in March – one of seven top tens so far this season.
The South African, who secured graduation to the DP World Tour afterfinishing seventh on the Challenge Tour's Road to Mallorca rankings last year, has risen to 16th in the DP World Tour Ranking and a career-high 89th on the Official World Golf Ranking.
What a week @DPWorldTour #CatalunyaChampionship at the iconic PGA Catalunya course. Thank you for all the messages and support. Really enjoyed the challenge. Fell just short of the win this week. But lots of positives. Well done @AdriArnaus on the win. Great playing yesterday! 💪🏻
— Oliver Bekker (@olliebekkergolf) May 2, 2022
Wild card – Andy Sullivan
Former Ryder Cup player Andy Sullivan boasts an excellent record in this week’s tournament, having finished in the top ten in three of the last four editions.
A closing 69 at The Belfry saw him secure a share of sixth place last year while he was also tied ninth at the 2020 ISPS HANDA UK Championship, another DP World Tour event to be held on the Brabazon Course.
The 34-year-old Englishman also won his fourth and most recent DP World Tour in England at the English Championship during the six-week UK Swing of tournaments in the 2020 season.
