Rolex Series: BMW PGA Championship - Key Talking Points

This week on the European Tour sees the return of Rolex Series action with the BMW PGA Championship taking place at Wentworth Golf Club in Surrey, England.

The sizeable prize fund has attracted a stellar field with bumper crowds expected at one of the most famous golf courses in the United Kingdom and headquarters to the PGA European Tour.

To help preview what is sure to be four great days of play, here are our key talking points for the fourth Rolex Series event of 2019.

Rolex Series Returns

So much has happened in golf since the last Rolex Series event took place on the European Tour back in July. Shane Lowry has been crowned Champion Golfer of the Year, while Brooks Koepka is the PGA of America Player of the Year. Also, after his FedEx Cup win, Rory McIlroy bagged the highly-coveted PGA Tour Player of the Year title.

Focus now turns to a quintet of remaining Rolex Series events which will help determine the 2019 Race to Dubai winner. First up is this week's event at Wentworth.

Star-studded Lineup

The switch this year from the usual May slot means that many high profile golfers have managed to fit the BMW PGA Championship into their hectic golfing schedules.

As a result, the field has a high-quality feel with the likes of American pair Tony Finau and Patrick Reed joining Rory McIlroy, Justin Rose and 2018 champion Francesco Molinari at Wentworth this week.

Catch Frankie's highlights from last year's tournament below.

Papà Rafa's Return

Spaniard Rafael Cabrera-Bello tees it up at his first European Tour event since the birth of his first child Alva Margareta Cabrera Lundstedt back on August 8. Rafa proudly announced his daughter's arrival to the world via social media in the heart-warming post below:

Now with a focus on ending the 2019 season on a high, the current world number 42 restarts his Race to Dubai challenge this week with an undoubted spring in his step. He'a definitely one to watch this week.

Players to Watch

Speaking of golfers to watch, at Hole19 HQ we've been throwing around some names in trying to select a possible BMW PGA champion. As it turns out, one man was of more interest than all the others - yep, that's right, it's impossible to ignore Rory McIlroy.

After winning the Tour Championship and, therefore, the FedEx Cup last month the Northern Irishman lost out in a five-way playoff at the Omega European Masters last time out. Without a doubt, Rory is the form golfer in the field.

An alternative selection comes in the form of Englishman Matt Wallace. After narrowly missing out on a place in Thomas Bjorn's victorious Ryder Cup side in 2018 Matt will want to put down an early marker in the qualification race for Whistling Straits.

Whistling Straits Awaits

As alluded to above, the BMW PGA Championship is the first scoring event for 2020 Ryder Cup qualification, so there's a tasty added incentive this week at Wentworth.

Europeans in the field will be keen to grab a place in Padraig Harrington's side for Whistling Straits next year, including ten members of the victorious team from Le Golf National just last year.

The next European captain speaks of his pride and excitement below.

Lowry Leads The Way

Irishman Shane Lowry leads the current Race to Dubai standings and arrives in Surrey at a tournament in which his best performance was a second-place finish back in 2014.

After his stunning Open Championship win at Royal Portrush back in July, could he follow in Molinari's footsteps and replicate the Italian's impressive double by winning this tournament in the same year as breaking his major duck?

Who do you think could win this week at the BMW PGA Championship? Who wins the Race to Dubai title? Let us know in the comments.

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