Luke Donald believes his “great memories” of Wentworth Club can help him win a third successive title at the BMW PGA Championship, although the Englishman has warned against putting too much focus on achieving the hat-trick.
The 2011 and 2012 winner of The European Tour’s Flagship Event is looking to match a record set by Colin Montgomerie in winning three titles running over the famous West Course.
“It\'s very nice to be back,” said the World Number Six. “A lot of great memories. Obviously to have won here the last two years, going back to 2011, that was a special win for me, got me to World Number One.
“This tournament has always been very special, having grown up very close to here. I\'ve always had a lot of support of family and friends to enjoy my victories with me, and it would be great to be back here and great to have an opportunity to win three in a row, which would be a lot of fun.
“I have to treat this as an opportunity to win another tournament. Trying not to think about three in a row so much, but it would be great to emulate what Monty did.”
Donald believes some of his success at the venue can be put down to the course changes, which The Ryder Cup star believes have made it more technically demanding.
“Since the changes here, the course seems to have really suited my game and I feel very comfortable around this place,” he added. “Hopefully more of the same this year.
“I do think it\'s a lot of strategy involved in this golf course. Since Ernie redid a lot of the greens, they are a little bit more sectioned off. You have to be a little bit more precise with your irons into these greens.
“The deep bunkers, I feel like I haven\'t had too much issue out of them because I\'m reasonably good out of sand. But it\'s a strategy course where you sort of plod your way around - it\'s a little bit like THE PLAYERS Championship in a way, you\'re not taking driver off of every hole.
“There\'s a lot of irons, there\'s a lot of three woods. It\'s not all about hitting it far off the tee; so in that regard, I feel quite comfortable that distance isn\'t too much of an issue around this place.
“Some of my results have been held back a little bit with some of my scoring clubs, a hundred yards and in, but working hard on that. I saw some progress in the last few tournaments on the greens, and it\'s a fine line between finishing 20th and being in contention. Hopefully I can cross on to the good side of that soon.”
