Grass really is greener for the new Wentworth

ThiS is a story about 007: how 007 rescued the reputation of Wentworth and saved it from losing the BMW PgA Championship. how 007 will be lauded by every pro when the european Tour’s flagship event takes place in a fortnight’s time, turning the locker room from a seething hotbed of disgruntlement into an oasis of tranquility.

Not that 007, obviously. This 007 is a strain of grass also known as ‘creeping bent’. it’s reasonable to ask: how is grass of the garden variety going to transform the atmosphere at england’s most beloved tournament?

Let’s rewind to recent editions, where at least half the field were walking round with their faces tripping them. ian Poulter and henrik Stenson were so disillusioned by changes to the course and the poor state of the greens they never even made it to the first tee for the last couple. even rory Mcilroy, who always does more than his share to help european golf, stayed away last year.

To put the tin lid on matters, the Wentworth members were also up in arms at the revised membership proposals put forward by the new Chinese owners. in short, the iconic venue was a mess, and the european Tour was ready to pull the plug.

‘We knew we were in grave danger of losing the PgA and we couldn’t allow that to happen,’ says Wentworth’s chief executive Stephen gibson. ‘We knew we had to do something drastic.’

over the past year an astonishing £5million has been spent to change the mood. The course reopened last week and it’s fair to say the money has been well spent.

Twenty-nine of the bunkers that turned Wentworth from a scenic course in London’s stockbrocker belt into something looking like a humdrum venue in Florida have gone. i had the chance to play it last week and marvelled at the return of a beautiful Surrey walk restored. But that wouldn’t be enough to appease the pros. enter 007. Wentworth course director Kenny Mackay trialled 10 different grasses to fix the controversial greens, where the bent and poa annua strains grew at different times and meant greens that putted well in the morning were a farce by the afternoon. he settled on the 007 creeping bent strain, aided by the installation of the first sub-air system in england, more commonly associated with Augusta National.

Let defending PgA champion Chris Wood, who also played the new layout last week, explain the difference. ‘it really is night and day,’ he said. ‘You step on to the first green and your first thought is to wonder if you’re on the same golf course. good putters didn’t like it before because the greens turned putting into a lottery. Now they’re really going to fancy their chances.’

rory, henrik and Justin will all be back, and Wood is emboldened enough to make a big prediction. ‘After they’ve played the course and marvelled at the greens, you’re going to see a real outpouring of love,’ he said.

There you have it. 007 saves the day. Again.