Padraig Harrington is to get an an exclusive preview of the new-look West Course at Wentworth tomorrow (Friday), more than a month ahead of this year’s BMW PGA Championship event (20-23 May).

In the company of selected Wilson Golf retail customers, the three-time Major winner will play a full 18 holes with his new Wilson Staff FG Tour irons over the famous Burma Road track.

In recent months Ernie Els has helped to modernise a course Harrington once doubted was competitive enough.

“I thought I had done quite well to shoot four-over for two rounds in 2002, but Anders Hansen ended up winning with 19 under,” said Harrington explaining his absence from last year’s flagship event.

“But once I heard that they were going to re-model the greens, I said that when that happens I will be one of the first there.”

Commenting on the choice of venue for a Wilson promotional event, Doug Wright, Business Director of Wilson Golf in Europe, said: “In the past four years we have taken Padraig to Carnoustie, Royal Birkdale and Turnberry ahead of The Open Championship.

"He obviously benefitted from the experience of playing those courses some weeks earlier.

"Now we hope that being one of the first to play the renovated Wentworth course will also stand him in good stead, especially with his new FG Tour irons.”