Following their recent successes thousands of miles apart, Ernie Els of South Africa and Ireland’s Padraig Harrington, currently ranked Number Three and Six in the World respectively, have confirmed that they will play in The European Tour’s flagship event, the BMW Championship, at Wentworth Club, Surrey, England, from May 26-29, 2005.
Els, The European Tour’s Order of Merit holder and current Number One, recently completed a stunning two weeks with back to back victories in the Dubai Desert Classic and the Qatar Masters, while Harrington triumphed on the other side of the world when he became the first player from the Republic of Ireland to win on the US PGA Tour at the Honda Classic.
Both players will add their considerable talents to the world class field that is set to descend upon Wentworth Club’s West Course at the end of May.
Els, 35, has never won the PGA Championship but come close on a number of occasions, finishing in the top five on five separate occasions since 1992 and taking the runner-up spot three times, in 1994, 1997 and 1998.
He said: “Wentworth is one of my favourite places in golf for two reasons – I love the West Course and I live on the Estate. I would dearly love to win the BMW Championship to set alongside my six World Match Play titles over the West Course.”
Harrington will make his first appearance at the BMW Championship since 2002, his best performance coming in 1998 when he finished 11th. With the BMW Asian Open among Harrington’s 12 European Tour career victories, the 34 year old Ryder Cup star is hoping that BMW’s sponsorship of the tournament can bring him a change in fortunes at Wentworth Club.
“As a past winner of the BMW Asian Open and runner-up in the BMW International Open, I am hopeful that BMW's sponsorship of the PGA Championship is a good omen for me!” he said. “I finished runner-up in the World Match Play Championship over the West Course and I am hoping to go one better at Wentworth Club in May.”
