Wood hails Wentworth greens as ‘fantastic’

EUROPEAN TOUR: Praise from last year’s winner ahead of BMW PGA Championship

Defending champion Chris Wood believes players will have no cause to moan about the “absolutely perfect” greens in use for the upcoming BMW PGA Championship at Wentworth.

Luke Donald and Justin Rose were among those to criticise the state of the putting surfaces in 2015, with two-time winner Donald suggesting they needed replacing for the second time in six years.

Donald got his wish when an extensive renovation programme began just eight days after Wood’s victory last year, with all 18 greens stripped of their old turf and reseeded with a new type of grass.

The greens on the eighth, 11th, 14th and 16th were rebuilt and another five – the third, fourth, fifth, 12th and 15th – were partially rebuilt, while a sub-air system as used at Augusta National was installed under all 18 greens.

All bunkers were redesigned and a total of 29 removed, with a combination of those changes – and no doubt the £5.4 million prizefund – helping to attract the likes of Rory McIlroy and Henrik Stenson to the first Rolex Series event.

Former winner McIlroy did not play last year, while Open champion Stenson will make just his second appearance in seven years in one of the European Tour’s flagship events.

After playing the course yesterday, Wood said: “My first impression was walking on to the first green, looking down and thinking ‘Am I on the right golf course?’

“It’s night and day compared to last year. The greens are absolutely fantastic. Every putt you hit is so true, and that’s probably not what the players have been used to the last couple of years here.

“You cannot expect perfect conditions in the UK in May, but I think this proves it can be done.

“I can’t see any player moaning about the greens this year.”

Wood believes the changes could also promote more attacking play of the kind he wanted to showcase 12 months ago, when his caddie insisted on a conservative strategy on the final hole instead.

Picture: Getty. Defending champion Chris Wood, who said the difference at Wentworth from last year is like “night and day”.