Shane Lowry has solid claims in the British Masters at Woburn
Wednesday 7 October 2015 11:41, UK
Golf expert Ben Coley looks at the top 20 contenders for the British Masters supported by Sky Sports.
1 Shane Lowry
The Irishman is flying right now, with a first World Golf Championship title in the bag as he graduates from solid European Tour professional to global star. It's unfortunate for Lowry that his stunning display at Firestone came just before the beginning of the Ryder Cup points race but he's 11/10 to make the side with Sky Bet and should be in the mix for a place at Hazeltine.
In terms of this week, a top-20 finish at the Dunhill Links should have blown away the cobwebs and his form at Wentworth bodes well for his prospects of taking to Woburn. Lowry is a versatile golfer but the way he drove the ball at the tree-lined South Course in that WGC win suggests he'll really enjoy the challenge presented by the Marquess' Course and he therefore looks the man to beat.
2 Francesco Molinari
Another Wentworth fan, Molinari's arrow-straight driving will keep him out of trouble at Woburn and we must remember that he lives in London (and supports West Ham), which makes this something akin to a home game. Molinari is of course Italian and will have been slightly disappointed to finish 20th in his home event last time, but an opening 65 represented a return to something approaching his best after he'd struggled through the Open-Firestone-US PGA run.
Molinari's form in standard European Tour events reads 2-5-51-6-20 this year as he seeks for that US/Europe balance and he's likely to be a factor once more, albeit three wins in over 300 events at this level demonstrates a slight weakness when it comes to the crunch (Lowry has as many in less than half the starts).
3 Danny Willett
The best of the English challenge might come from Danny Willett, whose profile is somewhat similar to that of my top pick. Willett has really come of age over the last 12 months, winning the Nedbank Challenge, adding another title in Switzerland and contending for the Open and a World Golf Championship in between.
While somewhat erratic from the tee, Willett has a top-10 finish at Wentworth in the locker and his victory at Crans came on one of the tightest courses played all year. So, if he can harness his naturally aggressive approach and enjoys a good week with the putter, we can expect an improvement on last week's 52nd at the Dunhill which, again like Lowry, saw him start slowly.
4 Jamie Donaldson
Just over a year ago, Jamie Donaldson played the shot of his life to secure Ryder Cup victory for Europe on his debut in the competition. It should therefore be no surprise that he's struggle just a little bit in 2015, although fitness problems have undeniably played their part.
The biggest factor has been Donaldson's enhanced status in the sport as he now has to balance commitments here and abroad, something he's been thrown into later in life than many of his peers. Still, he'll work it out and a solid fortnight has seen him finish fifth in Germany before 13th place in the Dunhill. A former winner of the Irish Open and another with Wentworth form, Donaldson should be collecting another decent cheque on Sunday.
5 Graeme McDowell
If straight driving is the order of the day, then Graeme McDowell should prove to be a contender this week. The Northern Irishman has struggled a little this season, doubtless distracted by a new arrival in the family, but like Donaldson has enjoyed a slight upturn in fortunes since returning to mainland Europe.
He'll need to step forward again here but anyone who watched last week's event will recall AP McCoy waxing lyrical about his playing partner's ball-striking - it may pay to take note. McDowell doesn't have much English form bar playing well in one or two Open Championships, but his biggest successes on the European Tour in recent seasons have come in the Open de France which places an emphasis on precision. Similar attributes should be rewarded in the British Masters.
6 Luke Donald
I've mentioned Wentworth once or twice already and that's because Woburn's Marquess' Course, while much younger, may present a similar test. If that's so, watch out for two-time BMW PGA winner Luke Donald, who loves the Old Course and the challenge it represents.
Donald has work to do if he's to force his way back towards the top of the sport, increasingly dominated by younger, powerful men, but he's gone back to what he knows this year and reunited with coach and mentor Pat Goss. It's a move which has seen him gradually find some consistency and I wouldn't read too much into last week's missed cut. One of the most likeable players on the circuit, Donald could well bounce back under what look suitable conditions.
7 Soren Kjeldsen
Like Molinari, Soren Kjeldsen owns a home in the south of England - in fact he's a member of Sunningdale and can regularly be found strolling the fairways of that splendid Harry Colt creation. Like Wentworth and even Walton Heath, Sunningdale should give us some decent clues as to what to expect here and Kjeldsen can therefore be fancied to go well.
The 40-year-old has been one of the success stories of the summer, ending a six-year title drought with victory in the Irish Open and, crucially, holding onto his form since. In his last six European Tour starts, Kjeldsen has five top-12 finishes so if you're looking for someone to give you a good run for your money, the diminutive Dane might well be the best candidate.
8 Ian Poulter
It's well-documented that Ian Poulter is a Woburn member and, as tournament host, there would be few more popular winners this week - especially with tournament sponsors. And they're not without hope, for the Ryder Cup hero has shown flashes of brilliance this season and by his own admission really should have won the Honda Classic on the PGA Tour. Poulter's form dipped in the summer, a fact compounded by some golf courses which don't play to his strengths, but he'll be raring to go as he bids for another strong end to the season.
Poulter has no fewer than seven titles in November to his name and can be relied upon to play well over the coming months, but perhaps this will prove a week or two too early. The history books show that he tends to come up just shy on his first start following the end of the PGA Tour season before really stepping it up a gear and that's a trend I expect to continue.
9 Matthew Fitzpatrick
At just 21 years of age, Matthew Fitzpatrick is the brightest young star in English golf - if not world golf - and remains a key contender for the Sir Henry Cotton Rookie of the Year award. To land that prize he may well have to pick up a first professional win over the next six or seven weeks, but with five top-five finishes this season that's perfectly possible.
The Sheffield lad missed the cut last week but perhaps those long rounds in the company of amateurs didn't suit and he's better judged on the pick of his form this summer, which included a round of 60 in the KLM Open. Fitzpatrick is a beautiful ball-striker who finds fairways for fun so Woburn should suit and he's a danger to all.
10 Miguel Angel Jimenez
At the opposite end of the age and experience scale to Fitzpatrick is Miguel Angel Jimenez, who has shown enough this year to suggest that he may well extend his own record as the oldest winner in European Tour history. Now 51, the popular Spaniard remains in good form and anyone who recalls his infamous bust-up with Keegan Bradley earlier this season will know the fire still burns.
Whether or not he can play his way onto the Ryder Cup team once more remains to be seen, but Miguel can certainly compete in an event like this. He's a Wentworth specialist with 1st, 2nd, 3rd, 4th and 5th-placed finishes to his name in the BMW PGA Championship, and there's no reason he won't find Woburn equally to his liking.
Best of the rest:
11 Lee Westwood - Remains a danger on the European Tour, has gone close at Wentworth on several occasions in recent years and should be set for a solid end to the season
12 Chris Wood - Found form over the final couple of rounds at the Dunhill Links and came to prominence when nearly winning the Open as an amateur on British soil
13 Byeong-hun An - Wentworth winner who recently landed the Korean Open too and is more than capable of producing the low numbers likely to be required
14 David Horsey - Another Englishman who arrives with solid claims having won in Russia and briefly flirted with that magic 59 on Sunday; neat and tidy
15 Eddie Pepperell - Top-five finishes in Wales, Scotland and Ireland to his name and sixth at Wentworth; looks a player if back on-song
16 Tommy Fleetwood - Found his scoring touch at the weekend, played really well in the BMW PGA this year and won sole title at this level in neighbouring Scotland
17 Joost Luiten - Among those looking to graduate to Ryder Cup level and should enjoy a course which may remind him of Hilversumsche in his native Holland
18 Peter Hanson - Swede has some course form here, albeit from 2002, tends to come good towards the end of the season and has won at Hilversumsche
19 Alejandro Canizares - Five top-25 finishes in his last six starts for this Spanish talent who loves Wentworth; could well come alive here
20 Stephen Gallacher - Has some form in the event and there have been some good signs since he started working with coach Mike Walker
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