Dinwiddie hoping for happy Wentworth return
May 21 2009 by Tim Taylor, The Journal
THE vibes are good for Robert Dinwiddie as he goes into the PGA European Tour’s flagship tournament today chasing his first top spot and a £667,093 cheque.
In last year’s BMW PGA Championship, the 26-year-old from Barnard Castle broke the West Course record at Wentworth during his rookie season with birdies at the last five holes for a 63.
The dinner Dinwiddie and his party of 10 family and friends enjoyed at a nearby restaurant that evening never tasted so good.
In 2009, the Year of the Underdog, the 2008 Player of the Year on both sides of the Atlantic, Padraig Harrington, Sergio Garcia and Ian Poulter are the three most notable absentees and Justin Rose has pulled out with a back injury. Henrik Stenson’s victory at the Players Championship in Florida makes him the highest-ranked player teeing off today at No 4 in the world rankings.
Poulter and Harrington have had issues with the greens on the West Course. In recent years, Garcia has admitted tax issues have stopped him visiting Britain more.
Yet he has not played the event since coming fifth in 2000 and he will be competing in next week’s European Open at the London Club in Kent.
Even so, Masters champion Angel Cabrera and other major winners in Retief Goosen, Ernie Els, John Daly and Ben Curtis are among those who stand between Dinwiddie and his breakthrough victory on tour. For the first timer, Dinwiddie will make the 25-minute drive from his flat in Twickenham, a bonus for a man who works hard at his golf but still values “chill-out” time away from the action.
