Steve Palmer's BMW PGA Championship first-round preview and best threeball bets

Golf tips, best threeball bets and analysis for the first round of the BMW PGA Championship at Wentworth on the European Tour.

When to watch

Sky Sports Golf, 8.30am Thursday

Best bets

Alexander Noren to win 12.20pm threeball
3pts 23-20 Betfred, Coral, Ladbrokes

Sam Horsfield to win 2.05pm threeball
2pts 5-4 Coral, Ladbrokes

Preview

The opening morning of the BMW PGA Championship will see Ian Poulter and Justin Rose bid to show some form in time for the Ryder Cup and advertise their wildcard potential, but most of the stars at Wentworth have an afternoon tee-time.

Defending champion Tyrrell Hatton will be joined by world number 14 Viktor Hovland in an intriguing 12.40pm group with European Ryder Cup captain Padraig Harrington. It is strange that Harrington has opted to play alongside two men who are already assured of a spot on his team, but maybe he sees the angry Englishman and the smiley Norwegian as a potential pairing.

Shane Lowry, Tommy Fleetwood and Lee Westwood follow at 12.55pm in the marquee group of the day. The best threeball bet options, though, come in two gatherings that will command much smaller galleries - Alexander Noren (12.20pm) and Sam Horsfield (2.05pm).

Noren, BMW PGA champion in 2017 and third on his title defence, has been lively on the PGA Tour lately, finishing fourth in the Rocket Mortgage Classic, fourth in The Northern Trust and ninth in the BMW Championship.

If the Swede carries that Stateside form to this happy hunting ground, playing partners Robert MacIntyre and Graeme McDowell will probably struggle to live with him. MacIntyre has missed his last two cuts - on the Korn Ferry Tour - while McDowell has slumped to 221st in the world rankings and has missed 23 cuts since the start of last year.

Horsfield, who closed with a 66 for 15th place in Italy on Sunday, has made a habit of fast starts this year, including a pair of 64s. The Manchester-born powerhouse may leave Marcus Armitage and Matt Pavon in his wake. Cloudy, calm conditions are expected all day.

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