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Image: Cabrera: unrivalled Wentworth record

Skysports.com picks out some likely contenders at this week's Wentworth showpiece.

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Virginia Waters attracts another world-class field

All aboard for the second biggest tournament on European soil. This week's BMW PGA Championship at Wentworth is the European equivalent of the Players Championship in the States. First staged in 1955, the event has been held 28 times over The West Course, while the status of the tournament has risen year-by-year. Once again a superb field has assembled in search of the £600k first prize, out of a total prize fund of £3.6m. US-based stars Ernie Els, Retief Goosen, Vijay Singh and Luke Donald all make the trip across the Atlantic, while the majority of Europe's leading players are also in attendance. The only big-name European absentees are Sergio Garcia and Padraig Harrington. Garcia has not played in the event since 2000, while Harrington has said in the past that the Burma Road layout is not one of his favourites. So who could be in line to win the European Tour's very own 'major'? Angel Cabrera: Possesses the best PGA Championship record of any player in recent years. Since the start of the current decade has won the title once, finished second twice and tied for fifth last year. Ernie Els: Knows the West Course like the back of his hand. But despite his many successes in the World Matchplay Championship, has never landed the PGA. In 12 starts has finished second three times. Martin Kaymer: The Rookie of the Year for 2007 finished strongly in Ireland last week and was 30th on his West Course debut 12 months ago. Andres Romero: A Major winner of the future. The impressive Argentinian claimed a maiden PGA Tour title two months ago and on his West Course debut last year finished in a tie for 12th. Vijay Singh: Chasing one of the few important titles to have eluded him over the years. First competed at the West Course in 1988 and has a best finish of tied-third last year when he missed out on a play-off by a single shot. Lee Westwood: Has experienced mixed fortunes at Wentworth during his career. Won the Matchplay there in 2000, which was the same year he registered his best PGA performance to date when he finished second. The 35-year-old played well in Ireland over the weekend.