Hansen and Rose resume Rivalry

Anders Hansen and Justin Rose, the two main protagonists in last year’s memorable BMW PGA Championship, will resume their rivalry over the West Course at Wentworth Club, Surrey, England, in the 2008 edition of The European Tour’s flagship event, which carries a record prize fund of €4.5 million (approx £3.6 million). Hansen and Rose will face strong opposition for the €750,000 (approx £600,000) first prize on the famous West Course with reigning US Open Champion Angel Cabrera in the field alongside multiple Major Championship winners Ernie Els, Retief Goosen, José Maria Olazábal and Vijay Singh. Hansen defeated Rose in a play-off last year to secure his second BMW PGA Championship title – coaxing home a 25 foot birdie putt on the first sudden-death play-off hole after the pair had tied on eight under par 280 after 72 holes. He became the eighth multiple winner of the BMW PGA Championship. Nick Faldo, Europe’s 2008 Ryder Cup Captain, has a record four victories; Peter Alliss, Bernhard Langer and Colin Montgomerie have each won three; and Seve Ballesteros, Tony Jacklin and Ian Woosnam are two-time winners. “I think winning it twice is a fair achievement to start with!” smiled the Dane, who won his first BMW PGA Championship in 2002. “But you look at the names I am alongside and get a sense of the importance of the BMW PGA Championship. To win it for a third time would be very special.” Rose, who finished Number One in The 2007 European Tour Order of Merit race, said: “Coming so close to winning the BMW PGA Championship last year has only strengthened my desire to go one better this time around. The BMW PGA Championship means a lot to me, so to win a tournament that I really do love and a tournament that I've come to watch many times as a kid has always been a dream of mine.” Cabrera will be looking to repeat his BMW PGA Championship success of three years ago while Els - US Open Champion in 1994 and 1997, Open Champion in 2002 and winner seven times on the West Course in the World Match Play Championship - is seeking his first BMW PGA Championship success having finished runner-up in 1994, 1997 and 1998. Singh, winner of two US PGA Championship titles, in 1998 and 2004, and the Masters Tournament in 2000, finished joint third behind Hansen and Rose last year and he, too, will be looking for his first victory in the BMW PGA Championship. Likewise, Goosen, the US Open Champion in 2001 and 2004, is chasing his first success in what will be his 15th successive appearance in the BMW PGA Championship event after an unbroken run stretching back to 1993. All four days will be broadcast live on BBC Television.Tickets are now on sale with special prices available in advance via www.europeantourtickets.com or by calling +44 (0) 800 023 2557. For details of hospitality packages available call +44 (0)1344 840 483 or email hospitality@europeantour.com.