Irish aces bid to end 52-year PGA famine

IRISH golfers have won tournaments – including majors – in almost every corner of the globe.

However, one of the few exceptions is the European Tour’s flagship event, the BMW PGA Championship which begins over the newly revamped West Course at Wentworth, Surrey, this morning.

Our only champion remains the late Harry Bradshaw, who triumphed at Llandudno in 1958 in a totally different scenario to what now prevails in the professional game. Back then, the tournament finished on Fridays so that the competitors could be back at their clubs and the prize money was paltry, with the winner lucky to pick up £500. The PGA Championship was confined to UK and Irish pros until 1966 – but the times were changing.