This preview was written before the tournament. Prices quoted are pre-tournament prices and are not current.
Best Bet
Rory McIlroy to win (outright, $21.00). McIlroy lost a playoff to Billy Horschel here in 2024, so he has shown he can win at Wentworth. He has the power to attack the par 5s and the iron play to create chances, and he is the most complete player in a very strong field. $21.00 is a good price for the player we rate highest.
The reasoning
The BMW PGA Championship is one of the biggest events outside the majors, and the field shows it: McIlroy, Tommy Fleetwood, Jon Rahm, Tyrrell Hatton and Ludvig Åberg are all playing. Defending champion Alex Noren is back after beating Adrien Saddier in a playoff last year, and he is trying to be the first player to successfully defend the title since Horschel, who is not in the field.
Wentworth’s West Course is a par 72 of 7,282 yards, a tree-lined parkland layout where positioning matters more than raw power. Wayward drives are punished and good iron players have done well here, but there are scoring chances for those who stay aggressive. The finish is a big swing hole: the par-5 18th is a birdie or eagle chance with water guarding the green, so a Sunday playoff would not surprise anyone.
Other plays
- Tommy Fleetwood ($26.00). Fleetwood is making his 15th appearance at Wentworth, in front of a big English crowd. His accurate ball-striking suits the course, and he has shown he can finish off tournaments.
- Justin Rose ($36.00, value). At 46, Rose has already won on the PGA Tour this year and is playing his 21st BMW PGA. Few in the field know the course better, and he is a good price for that experience.
- Ryan Fox ($56.00, value). Fox won here in 2023 by shooting 67 on the final day after an early triple bogey, and he also won the Open Championship this season. He has plenty of length for the par 5s, and $56.00 is generous for a former champion.
How we’d play it
- Main bet: McIlroy outright at $21.00.
- Each-way angle: Fleetwood and Rose, who both suit a course that rewards accurate iron play.
- Small stake: Fox as a longer-priced outsider.
