Dan Roebuck’s European Tour preview: BMW PGA Championship

Luke Donald goes for an historic hat-trick this week, as he looks to win the European Tour’s flagship tournament, the BMW PGA Championship, for a third consecutive year.

The former world number one is the market principle at Wentworth at 8/1, as he looks to join Sir Nick Faldo and Seve Ballesteros, the only players to have managed the three-peat previously, in a very exclusive club.

The 2011 Race to Dubai winner obviously has every chance, but despite each-way finishes in Tampa and South Carolina this term, to go along with his stellar course form, he is overlooked.

With all bar Peter Hanson of the 2012 winning Ryder Cup team teeing up in Virginia Water, the field is of the highest quality. And it’s from Jose Maria Olazabal’s Medinah squad that the two main selections are plucked from – Justin Rose and Lee Westwood, who are both 12/1 for victory.

Rose was runner-up here 12 months ago – and has three times found one player too good in his last 11 starts. If his putting was better he’d win almost every week, his play from tee to green is that good. Time off the fairways since a missed cut at the Players Championship – never a happy hunting ground for Rose – has hopefully sharpened up his flat stick skills as he bids to go one better than last year and when second in 2007.

Westwood also has two runner-up finishes on his BMW PGA Championship CV, the most recent in 2011. Also like Rose, he has done everything bar win this term and only needs some luck on greens to be successful at Wentworth.

Lastly, after last week’s second place in Bulgaria, Thongchai Jaidee, a player with four straight top-ten finishes coming into this week, is also worth a financial interest at 66/1.

My three off the tee – Rose, Westwood and Jaidee.

All Odds and Markets are correct as of the date of publication