Every player has certain courses that suit them, a layout where they feel comfortable and confident they can perform.
When that layout is the West Course at the Wentworth Club, home to the Rolex Series BMW PGA Championship, a player can count themselves very lucky indeed.
And when that player is one of the world's best, the stage is set for potentially remarkable golf.
Here, we take a look at five Major champions who history suggests could have a very good week at DP World Tour HQ.
Rory McIlroy
Appearances: 14
Wins: 1
Top tens: 6
After making his Wentworth debut in 2008, it is fair to say it was not love at first sight for McIlroy, who missed three of his first six cuts, finishing under par for the week just twice. But a fifth-placed finish in 2009 had shown there was something there and in 2014 it came to the fore in spectacular fashion. McIlroy arrived at Wentworth tenth in the world but he left sixth and would be World Number One within ten weeks. He started the final day seven shots off the lead and found himself on top for the first time with a birdie on the 71st hole. He added another on the 72nd in a closing 66 and finished one shot ahead of Shane Lowry at 14 under. That set in motion a remarkable run as he won The Open, the WGC-Bridgestone Invitational and the US PGA Championship in consecutive starts en route to a second Harry Vardon Trophy. He missed the cut in his Wentworth defence but since then he has finished second three times, with two further top tens establishing him as a true West Course specialist.
Shane Lowry
Appearances: 16
Wins: 1
Top tens: 4
While at a glance Lowry's numbers may not appear as impressive as McIlroy's, from a sheer consistency standpoint the Irishman is hard to beat. He made his debut in 2010, a year and a week after he sensationally won his home open as an amateur and has played in every edition since. Across those 16 stagings he has a win, a runner-up, another top five, two top tens and incredibly seven top 20s. That means he has only finished outside the top 20 four times over the West Course, with just one missed cut to his name. His victory in 2022 came in testing circumstances as the death of Queen Elizabeth II on day one led to play on Friday being cancelled out of respect. On Sunday Jon Rahm set a testing target with a blistering 62 but Lowry birdied the last to edge ahead with a 65 of his own. McIlroy could have forced a play-off had his eagle putt on the last dropped but it stayed above ground and Lowry was the champion. "I love this tournament and I love this course," he said. "I love coming here, the area, I just love everything about it. I'm so happy that I can come here and win the tournament this year."
Jon Rahm
Appearances: 4
Wins: 0
Top tens: 3
It may only be a small sample size but Rahm's record in just four appearances strongly suggests that he will lift the trophy sooner rather than later. On his debut in 2019 he shared the lead after the second and third round, only to be edged into second by a closing 67 from playing partner Danny Willett. Three years later he was edged out by Lowry despite that 62, which would have equalled the course record had preferred lies not been in place. The following year he was a picture of consistency in finishing fourth before registering his worst Wentworth finish in a tie for 13th last season. Remarkably, all of his 15 rounds over the West Course have been under par, with 11 being in the 60s.
Patrick Reed
Appearances: 4
Wins: 0
Top tens: 4
Similar to Rahm, Reed's history over the West Course is limited but that does not mean it is not impressive, with all four of his appearances bringing top five finishes. His debut in 2019 started with a 70, a round that is still his joint highest over the West as he finished in a tie for for fourth and the following year he finished the week with three rounds of 68 to go one spot higher on the leaderboard. In 2022 he finished with a brilliant 63 to end the week in fifth and last season it was another top three as he carded four rounds in the 60s. Across 15 rounds over the West, Reed is 59 under with a scoring average of just a fraction over 68.
Aaron Rai
Appearances: 8
Wins: 0
Top tens: 3
Rai has played in every edition of this event for which he has been eligible and while his early record may not have been that impressive, he has certainly grown into the West Course. In 26 rounds at Wentworth, Rai has only been over par three times and all three of those times were in years when he missed the cut. His last 12 rounds, however, have all been under par, with ten in the 60s and it is that that suggests he could be a real threat. In 2023 he lipped out for an eagle on the last that would have forced a play-off with Ryan Fox and in the last two editions he has finished three shots behind the winner in fourth and third respectively.
