Wentworth now has the course to match

THE BMW PGA Championship is one of my favourite tournaments, on one of my favourite courses.

And, coming at this time of year, it seems to herald the start of our golfing summer.

The event and the venue will always have special memories in my life.

The PGA Championship was my first professional win on the then British Tour as a 20-year-old at Ashburnham in South Wales.

Now it’s at Wentworth where I was based for 27 years until I retired as club pro in 1997.

I still live locally and regard it as ‘home’. I play and practice there, while my family are all members too. Back in 1969, I collected a winner’s cheque for just over £1000, which was a lot of money back then. Next Sunday’s winner will walk away with nearly £700,000!

It was a good tournament to win in those days but it’s grown so much in stature over the years.

It’s become the flagship event on the European Tour, with a great field, great venue and great facilities.

In fact, the Tour likes to see this as their equivalent of the Players’ Championship at Sawgrass their ‘Major’.

It’s a big deal for the European players and, outside of The Open, this is the tournament they want to win over here.

Like most classic courses, Wentworth was suffering against the modern equipment and owner Richard Caring felt something had to be done.

The best event in Europe needed a course to match. Richard drafted in Wentworth resident Ernie Els and what began as small tinkering turned into major renovation.

So, all the greens were changed and tough bunkering was introduced around them. But the biggest change came at the 18th with the introduction of water in front of the green.

The previous feeling was that with two par fives to finish, once a player had got in front with a few holes to go, he was assured of victory.

They wanted more drama at the last. That decision was probably vindicated in 2011 as Lee Westwood lost a play-off to Luke Donald when his wedge shot spun into the water at that hole.

I would make one modification move the tees forward. You want players to be tempted to go for the green in two rather than pitch on for three. The initial response to the changes was quite negative. That’s understandable as it’s a shock when you change an iconic course.

Last year, scores were starting to get better and the players were more positive.

Overall, I’m happy with what’s been done. The West Course is the best inland course in the UK and it provides a stern, but fair, test of your game.

With all the prestige and money at stake, you need a course to match.

Over the years, virtually all golf’s marquee names have won at Wentworth in either the PGA or the Matchplay.

They want to keep up that tradition, though it has to be said Tiger Woods is missing from that list.

It’s also a course you need to think your way around. Of the modern players, there’s no-one better than Donald at doing that, hence his victories in the last two years.

The only disappointment this week is that the BBC won’t be there to capture the action. It’s a sign of the times but I just hope they don’t lose their coverage of The Open.