Tommy Fleetwood believes a change in conditions at the Wentworth Club can boost his chances at the 2020 BMW PGA Championship this week.
The Rolex Series event usually takes place in May but, due to the coronavirus pandemic, has been switched to October.
That means softer and cooler conditions, which Fleetwood – a runner-up in Scotland last week – believes that could work to his advantage.
“I do,” Fleetwood said, when asked if he would benefit from the change. “I think it's playing softer. It's playing longer.
“I played a few holes last night, and I hit a driver and five-iron to the first where, last couple of years, I thought, I'll smash a drive down the tee and if it gets down to the bottom, I'll flick in like a sand iron.
“Third, I hit drive and a three-iron to. That's never happened before. So I think this year, the length of it is different. I don't know what the wind is going to be like, but it's been strong the last two days. It's been so tricky in the trees the way it plays. I think it's definitely played different.
“Having said that, I always sort of thought of some tough shots and tough holes and Danny Willett will go and shoot 20-under around a golf course which I don't see at all.
“There's always people that play well and shoot good scores, but I do think it's playing a bit more difficult and probably the softer it is, the better it is for me.”
Defending champion Willett also expects a more difficult week than usual.
“It's going to be playing long,” he said. “A little bit of a colder week this week than what we have in years gone by.
“A little bit of rain forecast, a little bit of wind forecast, it could be in for a really stern test this year.
“Greens seem to be holding up really well. Everywhere is in good condition. It just is, as a whole, it is a little bit wetter.
“You're obviously going to get a few dodgy lies in the rough, ball is not going a million miles out there. I think it could be a slightly different test to what we've seen the last couple years.”
