RICHARD McEvoy says he’s thrilled at the prospect of getting underway today on the European Tour’s flagship event – the BMW PGA Championship at Wentworth.

A top prize of 750,000 euros is available for the winner at the famous event in Surrey, and the Thorpe Hall golfer says he can’t wait to pit himself against the world’s best golfers.

He said: “I used to watch this event as a kid and some of those guys I used to watch play will be competing here.

“The likes of Monty (Colin Montgomerie) and Ernie Els were guys who inspired me – so to play alongside them is brilliant.

“I’ve had the chance to practice with Monty a couple of times this year and he is a guy you can only respect. To win seven order of merits in a row is unbelievable and I don’t think it will ever be done again because European golf is so strong now.

“And there will also be three of the world’s top four golfers here so I just want to take my chance to shine, a bit like I did at the Open last year.”

McEvoy tees off at 11.15am in a group with Paraguayan Fabrizio Zanotti, and Chris Gill from Exeter, and all the action will be screened live on Sky Sports, with highlights being shown on BBC2.

McEvoy’s club-mate Matt Southgate is also in action as he bids to make the cut at the Telenet Trophy on the Challenge Tour.

He tees off at 1.50pm in a group with Ake Nilsson and Francois Calmels at the Ravenstein Royal Golf Club of Belgium.

Basildon’s Daniel Brooks, a member at Mill Hill Golf Club in North London, is also in Belgium, and he tees off at 9.10am in a group with Chris Paisley and Rafa Echenique.