European Tour BMW PGA Championship leaderboard http://www.europeantour.com/europeantour/season=2016/tournamentid=2016040/leaderboard/index.html?showLeaderboard=Y
The prize fund was just over 60,000 quid when Arnold Palmer won this championship when it was sponsored by Penfold back in 1975, last year it was 5,000,000 when Korean sensation Byeong Hun An won it in the 11th year of BMW's sponsorship.
It was then and has always been the flagship event for the European Tour , mostly played at the HQ for golf at Wentworth, and all that tour's biggest names and a smattering of American stars have traditionally supported it.
Seve, Tony Jacklin, Nick Faldo, Monty, Woosy, Langer, a who's who of the European game have joined the King on that coveted trophy
This year, Masters champion Danny Willett (9) is saving the blushes of new CEO Keith Pelley and his staff as he currently leads by 3 shots after rounds of 66 68 -10. None of Jason Day (1) Jordan Spieth (2), Bubba Watson (4) or Rickie Fowler (5) would have any allegiance to be here, but with no Rory (3) or Henrik (6) or Adam (7) or Justin (10), the field is lacking in star power.
Rory went all in last week, sponsoring and winning his national championship at the K Club and has supported and won this PGA championship in the past, as have the others. But he is back home in Florida as he recovers from his Irish hangover, and begins next week at Jack's place for his run at the US Open.
A combination of the top players divided loyalties, this crowded summer schedule with the inclusion of the Olympics, the Ryder Cup, and the strong influence from Jack Nicklaus and his $8.5m Memorial tournament next week has taken it's toll on this field.
Luke Donald and Lee Westwood were once world #1's but are past their prime and while there are 8 different flags up on the current leaderboard, guys like Scott Hend, YE Yang, Kiradech Aphibarnrat, Felipe Aquilar and Jorge Campillo must have the suits at the Golf Channel wondering why they have spent a fortune sending their entire broadcast crew over there when nobody but guys like me are watching.
So it's up to Danny boy this week. He has become a rock star in England, taking 4 weeks off to deal with all the media, and if he can hold on and win, not only will he be delighted, but so will everyone else in the tour's head office.
Bryan Angus
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