Steve Palmer's BMW PGA Championship matches and specials preview, best bets

Golf tips, best specials bets and player analysis for the BMW PGA Championship at the West Course on the DP World Tour.

When to watch

Sky Sports Main Event and Golf, 9am Thursday

Best bets

Jon Rahm to beat Rory McIlroy
3pts 11-10 Betfair, Power

Tyrrell Hatton to beat Abraham Ancer
3pts 10-11 Betfair, Power

Adam Scott top Rest of the World
1pt each-way 6-1 general

Shane Lowry-Matt Fitzpatrick forecast
0.5pt 350-1 bet365

Matt Fitzpatrick-Shane Lowry forecast
0.5pt 250-1 bet365

Preview

Jon Rahm is odds-against in a BMW PGA Championship match against Rory McIlroy, with stakes returned for a tie, and that looks too good an offer to decline.

McIlroy, dealing with an intense amount of media scrutiny this week as the Wentworth showpiece threatens to be overshadowed by golfing politics, has a mixed history in the BMW PGA. As well a victory on his Wentworth CV, he has also missed four cuts, and preference is for Rahm.

The Spaniard, runner-up in his only previous BMW PGA start, has a fantastic record of success in DP World Tour events. He seems to thrive being a big fish in the smaller ponds of the DP World circuit.

Another draw-no-bet match-bet price which appeals is the 10-11 about 2020 Wentworth champion Tyrrell Hatton defeating Abraham Ancer. In recent weeks, Hatton has looked like he is getting his act together again, while Ancer is one of the LIV Golf defectors who is banned from the pro-am. Given the Mexican is making his Wentworth debut - and was competing in the States on Sunday - he could have done with a Wednesday practice round.

Ancer can be opposed again in the top Rest of the World market, for which Adam Scott seems a worthwhile investment at 6-1. Scott came to life in the FedEx Cup playoffs, finishing fifth in both the FedEx St Jude Championship and the BMW Championship, and he was 14th in last year's BMW PGA.

Main outright fancies Shane Lowry and Matt Fitzpatrick make for tempting small-stake forecast options at enormous prices.

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