BMW PGA Championship

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The flagship event of the European Tour and a chance to continue the run of successful matchbets, currently at four in-a-row. The majority of the Ryder Cup side of 2012, plus most of Europe's top players flock to Surrey to experience what they call the best crowds and atmosphere anywhere in Europe and this really is Englands second Major even if the top US stars do not attend, although it would be a fantastic achievement if they coul somehow persuade them to do so in future. By 'persuade' I obviously mean 'chuck a load of money at them'.

Two matchbets this week - perhaps I am riding my luck - but valid reasons for both.

Justin Rose to beat Rory McIlroy - 6 points @ Evens (Betway) 10-11 (StanJames)

Whatever the world rankings say, for me there is no doubt that Rory is 'the best player in the world'. Unfortunately that word doesn't translate into points and he'll just have to go ahead cover the next year or so and win some more Majors. His oppo this week, Justin Rose, is actually now ranked two places higher at number 8, another pile of nonsense as far as I am concerned as both these players are far better than their OWGR. Nevertheless, on recent form there is very little between either of these players but the stats say that the Englishman should come out on top this week.

The players have met 16 times since May 2013 and Rose has won 11 of those 72-holers, including the last two at Quail Hollow and Sawgrass. There hasn't been much in it but Rose appears to be by far the better in the early stages of an event and as far as Wentworth is concerned, he is miles clear on the numbers. Runner-up in 2007 and 2012, even his 50th of last season trumps the efforts of the Irishman and with a recent run of three top-10s including The Players, looks to be peaking for a defence of his US Open crown.

Rory is the type of player that can win from anywhere, one only need to look at his recovery from 'that' Masters to see the evidence. However, he isn't the best player in windy conditions and whilst his high ball flight suits the shape of the greens, he often loses the ball in wind above the trees. His scrambling has been shocking this year, ranking in the 50s and miles behind Rose, whilst his form at this venue reads three missed-cuts, one top-50, one top-25 and the best of 5th was in 2009. The changes in the course demand accuracy over power and Rory won't dominate with much shorter irons. I see no reason at all why Rory is favoured other than name.

Chris Wood to beat Ernie Els - 5 points @ 91-100 (Betway)

It might take me a while to get over Chris Wood's effort last week in Spain when he really should have finished far higher than T7. Handy over the weekend, all was fine until a huge momentum stopper at the first par-5, a bogey when pin-high but bunkered in two. Still, we can't dwell and it confirms the Englishman in fine form. Finding something from somewhere in Singapore when shooting four rounds of 68 and better, he seems a far more confident player recently and simply couldn't hole a putt to match some excellent approach play at either venue. I like his chances this week once again as his GIR seems to have returned to top form and he is another that should be finding fairways with lesser clubs than the driver. As far as this venue is concerned, he had to withdraw last year after one round due to a back injury that kept him out for seven weeks, but it was only a third round 80 in 2012 that disguised some good play, whilst he led the third round in 2009 before two late bogeys on Sunday cost him a top-5.

Ernie is, of course, Mr Wentworth. Living on the course and the man responsible for the redesign, he will have a lot going on this week in terms of media pressure and interview. That may affect a man whose best days are behind him but he is a multiple winner of the matchplay event here even if his best in a strokeplay event are top-5s way back in the early 2000s. It is possible that Ernie will come alive here once again as he did when finishing 7th and 6th over the last two years, but form this year is utter rubbish, with a best of 43rd and five missed-cuts since reaching the semi-finals of the World Matchplay in Arizona (and lucky to get there). Everything looks pish, sorry, about his game. There is no accuracy off the tee, little in the way of attacking pins, and the putting has gone. For me, you have to go with the man rising up the game rather than one on the way down - again, they are matched in the same bracket only because of Ernie's name.