The British Masters makes its third straight appearance at The Belfry on the iconic Brabazon Course this week and it promises to be another enthralling tournament in north Warwickshire with a star-studded field vying for the spoils.
Former world number one Justin Rose will be making his first appearance on these shores since being forced to withdraw from the BMW PGA Championship in Surrey last year and he is expected to draw in some big crowds during his rounds.
Defending champion Thorbjorn Olesen is aiming to become the first back-to-back winner of this event since Greg Norman in 1982, while other big names such as Min Woo Lee, Adrian Meronk, Victor Perez and Robert MacIntyre are also teeing it up.
- Alexander Bjork to win and each-way
- Yannik Paul to win and each-way
- Jorge Campillo first-round leader
Swede To End Trophy Drought
Alexander Bjork's form at The Belfry doesn't make for sensational reading, with a 30th-place finish in 2021 followed by a missed cut the following year, but four top-tens from his last five outings show he is swinging it with confidence right now.
The last two winners of the British Masters excelled in approach play and on the greens, so it bodes well that world number 106 Bjork ranks highly in these categories on the DP World Tour this season.
Sweden's star is ninth in strokes-gained approach, 17th in greens in regulation and third in scrambling, while he ranks in the top ten in both strokes-gained putting and putts per greens in regulation.
Given the fact there are 12 par-fours to negotiate, it’s also pleasing to see Bjork is fifth in par-four scoring this season and his ranking looks even better when you consider those above him have all played around nine times fewer holes than the Swede's 492.
The 33-year-old looks ripe for picking this week and there is every chance he can end his wait for a second DP World Tour title, having broken his duck at the 2018 China Open.
ALEXANDER BJORK TO WIN AND EACH WAY
Yannik Paul in solid form
German In Fine Form
Yannik Paul has been in solid form this season, recording three top-fives and four top-tens, and he makes his return to The Belfry after finishing 16th last year.
The German is fifth in strokes-gained approach, 15th in greens in regulation and 11th in strokes-gained tee-to-green, while his scrambling has also been impressive as he ranks eighth in this category.
Paul travels to The Belfry following a third-place finish at the Scandinavian Mixed and it looks like he is getting closer to a second DP World Tour success after landing his first title at the Mallorca Open in October 2022.
YANNIK PAUL TO WIN AND EACH WAY
Campillo could start quickly
Spaniard To Start Hot
Jorge Campillo signed off last week's BMW International Open with a round-of-the-day 66 and he can take that confidence into the opening 18 holes in north Warwickshire.
The Spaniard won for the third time on the DP World Tour in March when lifting the Magical Kenya Open trophy and he has kept the form going with three top-ten results since that success.
Campillo shot a 63 at the KLM Open last month to lead the way after the first round and he could again come out of the blocks quickly.
JORGE CAMPILLO FIRST-ROUND LEADER
