Strong Irish charge can swing first Wentworth win in 54 years

The big guns of Irish golf will contest this week’s BMW PGA Championship, the European Tour’s flagship tournament, at Wentworth.

With Rory McIlroy returning to action and Graeme McDowell and Pádraig Harrington showing decent form in Spain and Texas respectively over the weekend, there is optimism our dismal record in the event — Harry Bradshaw’s 1958 win, the sole Irish title — can be improved on this occasion.

Also in the field for the €4.5m tournament are Darren Clarke, Michael Hoey, Shane Lowry, Paul McGinley, Peter Lawrie, Damien McGrane, Gareth Maybin and David Higgins, the Waterville pro who qualifies as leader of the 2011 Irish PGA Region order of merit.