Genworth Stats Pack - BMW PGA Championship Preview

Luke Donald is competing in this event for the 9th time and he is the double defending champion (he also finished 2nd in 2010 before his back to back wins). His combined Genworth Statistics over the last three years provides an insight into the best way to play the Wentworth course. It is not all about long driving but rather placing your ball in strategic positions and keeping out of trouble. We can see that Luke ranks 1st for Par 4 Scoring and 1st for Scrambles, plus he has dropped fewer shots than any other player over that period. Can the 7 time European Tour winner secure his hat-trick this week?

Rory McIlroy is competing in this event for the 6th time, with a best finish of 5th back in 2009. But the 24 year old current world number two actually has a poor record at this event (by his standards). Looking at his Genworth Statistics over the last three years, Rory seems to struggle a little on the greens, which does not enable him to make enough birdies or gain that all important momentum during the tournament (plus his Par 3 Scoring could also be better). The 5 time European Tour winner is still a big favourite though and it is only a matter of time before he secures his first win of the season, perhaps this week.

Graeme McDowell is competing in this event for the 11th time and arrives this week as the man in form, with two wins from his last three starts. But considering his strengths as a player (straight driving and great course management), historically the 33 year old golfer from Northern Ireland has a very average record over the Wentworth course, with missed cuts from his last two visits and a best of 13th back in 2009. We can see by Graeme’s Genworth Statistics that he struggles a little on and around the greens here, but all that may change this week with the 8 time European Tour winner brimming with confidence.

Justin Rose is competing in this event for the 10th time, with a best finish of 2nd last year (and also back in 2007). Looking at his combined Genworth Statistics from the last three years, the 32 year old Englishman is very strong over the Wentworth course, ranking 4th for Stroke Average, 10th for Greens in Regulation and 8th for Scrambles, plus the same as Luke Donald, Justin plays the Par 4 holes extremely well. The 5 time European Tour winner and current world number four is building a good season and should go well.

Lee Westwood is competing in this event for the 20th time, with a best finish of 2nd both in 2011 and back in 2000. His combined Genworth Statistics from the last three years highlight some long driving and a superb Greens in Regulation percentage, plus Lee has converted more birdies per Round than any other player except for George Coetzee. The 40 year old golfer from England has notched up 22 titles on the European Tour during his career, and arrives this week in good form off the back of three top ten finishes, but the flagship event still eludes him. Could this be the week?

Sergio Garcia is competing in the BMW PGA Championship for only the 3rd time, and not since back in the year 2000 when he finished tied for 5th, so we have no recent Genworth Tournament Statistics to present. But even though the 33 year old Spanish star may have a rusty old knowledge of the Wentworth course we should note that he has been in excellent form all year, coming close to winning on more than one occasion. Don’t be surprised if the 10 time European Tour winner walks away with this one.

Ian Poulter is competing in this event for the 12th time but overall he has not quite got to grips with the Wentworth course yet, with seven missed cuts from eleven attempts. Everything considered though, the 37 year old Englishman may have turned a corner in recent years, with his best ever finish of 10th coming in 2012. Looking at his combined Genworth Statistics from the last three years, the 12 time European Tour winner ranks 5th for Driving Accuracy and 17th for Greens in Regulation, so if he can just get his eye in on the greens he may well prove a force to be reckoned with.

Martin Kaymer is competing in this event for the 7th time, with a best finish of 11th back in 2009. Looking at his combined Genworth Statistics from the last three years, the 28 year old golfer from Germany has performed quite well in most departments of the game except for Par 4 Scoring, which oddly has been quite poor (perhaps he struggles with the shape of some of the holes). The 10 time European Tour winner arrives without much recent form so it will be interesting to see how he plays.

Paul Lawrie is competing in this event for the 22nd time, with a best finish of 2nd last year (and also back in 1996). The 44 year old golfer from Scotland arrives in steady form but he is waiting for that big week to kick start his season. Looking at his combined Genworth Statistics from the last three years, his has excelled on and around the greens, plus he has hit 32.4% of the Par 5 greens in sub-regulation (two shots). The 8 time European Tour winner may be the dark horse.

Peter Hanson is competing in this event for the 10th time, with a best finish of 5th back in 2005. He is renowned for being an excellent putter in recent years, confirmed when he topped the 2012 season ending Genworth Putts per GIR ranking. But that is a stark contrast to his performance on the Wentworth greens over the past three years, which we can see has been quite poor. The six time European Tour winner from Sweden is having a steady season but has struggle a little in recent events.

Francesco Molinari is competing in this event for the 8th time (with a best finish of 7th last year) but he arrives off the back of three missed cuts. Looking at his combined Genworth Statistics from the last three years, the 30 year old golfer from Italy ranks high for both Driving Accuracy and Greens in Regulation, which has in-turn led to some excellent Par 3 and Par 4 Scoring. The Wentworth layout should suit Francesco’s game if he can go well on the greens.

Nicolas Colsaerts is competing in this event for the 5th time (with a best finish of 35th back in 2006) but he arrives having missed the cut in both 2011 and 2012. Looking at his combined Genworth Statistics from the last three years, the big hitting 30 year old golfer from Belgium has actually driven the ball long and straight off the tee and he also ranks inside the top 50 for Greens in Regulation, but his performance on and around the greens has been way below average for a player of his standards.