Ernie Els and Anders Hansen are both keen to extend their fine pedigree over Wentworth Club’s famous West Course at the BMW PGA Championship, which begins on Thursday.
Denmark’s Hansen, of course, is the defending Champion and one of only eight multiple BMW PGA Championships winners, while twice runner up Els, of South Africa, has won seven times on the West Course in the World Match Play Championship.
Both hope the course will once again be to their liking as they prepare to face another stellar field, which also includes the likes of Vijay Singh, Luke Donald, Justin Rose, Henrik Stenson and Lee Westwood from the World’s Top 20.
Hansen, who also won the Championship in 2002, admitted Wentworth Club was a special place for him to return to.
He said: “Obviously it's a great feeling to be back from last year and I have some great memories here. I seem to have been playing pretty good golf around this golf course for, I don't know, I think I've been here seven times and I've had pretty good results almost every time. I think I had a period where I missed a couple of cuts, but other than that, it's been pretty solid.
“For some reason I always felt good here, or always played well here,” he added.
Hansen, who lifted the trophy last year after a sudden-death play-off win against England’s Justin Rose, admitted that it would be difficult to repeat his success this week and secure a third title.
He said: “I don't think the odds will be on my side. I think winning it two years in a row hasn't happened many times.
“But you know, things I guess were on my side last year coming here and winning it, so same situation, you never know.”
Els, who lives on Wentworth Estate and been instrumental in the course modifications in recent years, said he was looking forward to having another shot at the BMW PGA Championship after coming close in 1994, 1997 and 1998.
He admitted he struggled to explain why he had yet to lift the trophy despite his unrivalled record in the World Match Play Championship over the same West Course.
The World Number Three said: “The one record is great and the other one is not so good. It’s the same golf course, it's just a different format. We've spoken about it so many years now, haven't we? You know, I came close there for a couple of years in the late 90s but I haven't quite done it.
“I'm feeling as though my game is coming around. I've been working with Butch (Harmon) a little bit and actually went to spend some time with him before The Players Championship. I made the equivalent of 20 birdies at The Players Championship, but a lot of mistakes, obviously. I've had a nice preparation into this event so far. I’ve been working on my game over the weekend, and obviously I know the course very well.
“This is a tournament set really on its own, and I'd obviously love to win it. I've got a good chance this year I think.”
