2003: Garrido wins after play-off

Wentworth's West Course remains a fitting home for the flagship tournament on the European Tour.

They have tinkered with the odd tee since it was opened in 1927 but essentially it remains the same marvellous lay-out designed by the great course architect Harry Shapland Colt.

Seve Ballesteros rates it alongside Augusta as one of his two favourite courses in the world and describes it as the "ultimate examination".

At 7,072 yards it's not the longest. But it's not a course to take on if you're not hitting the ball cleanly - wayward hitting is invariably punished with a visit into the trees or ferns and a bogey at best.

EASIEST HOLE:
The par-five fourth measures just 497 yards and is as good as the going gets on the West Course.

Last year, when Spaniard Ignacio Garrido saw off Trevor Immelman in a play-off, it averaged 4.37 strokes a time, less than the par-four hole which precedes it.

A ditch runs across the fairway but a solid three-wood or easy driver will leave you in shape to find the green with a four or five-iron and a possible eagle putt. Last year an elite field rattled in 29 eagles, 264 birdies and just 21 bogeys on this hole.

HARDEST HOLE:
The 447-yard third is some 50 yards shorter than the fourth but is a par-four and it's literally uphill all the way.

Wentworth-resident Els loves the West Course

It's a dog-leg left but try to cut too much off the corner with the driver and you could end up in thick rough left or worse. Lay up with a three-wood and you need another bash with the same club to reach in two.

When you get to the green it slopes from back to front and many a player has misjudged a chip from just off to find it rolling back to his feet.

Last year it averaged 4.47 shots, with just 21 birdies and 201 bogeys.

Where do we start? European Ryder Cup captain Bernhard Langer will miss out because of an injured wrist but the 50th Volvo PGA Championship will barely miss him.

World number two Vijay Singh and third-ranked Ernie Els both love the course and have won here. And Open champion Ben Curtis is also in the strongest Tour field of the season.

Els won �1m last year in the World Match Play - his fifth victory in the Wentworth event - and was fourth here behind Garrido. He has never won this event but has finished runner-up three times and is probably, just, the man to beat.

Information provided by Reuters Stats