Benson's shot at the big time is 'dream come true'

May 21 2009 By John Whitbread

YOUNG Wentworth discovery Seve Benson makes his debut in the £4.1million BMW PGA Championship over his home course today (Thursday)  thanks to shock Irish Open winner Shane Lowry.

Lowry became only the third amateur ever to win a European Tour event, when he triumphed at Drogheda on Sunday.

And when he opted not to turn professional it left open the last available spot in the elite 156 -man field gunning for the £675,000 first prize at Wentworth this weekend.

Benson, 22, playing his rookie season on the European Tour after finishing in the top 10 on the Challenge Tour last year was "thrilled and excited" to claim that coveted last spot.

He said: "I was third reserve and after the first two got sponsors' invitations I was left wondering if there would be any withdrawals to let me in. Lowry winning the Irish Open was a great achievement for him, and it has also given me a fantastic opportunity on my home course.

"I spent many years as a schoolboy watching the stars in the PGA and dreaming about playing in it, now that dream has come true."

Benson begins his first round at 10.40am, but  the big draw for Surrey fans will be at 8.10, when Weybridge ace Paul Casey, currently ranked seventh ion the world, joins Wentwoprtth's fast-risng star Ross Fisher and South African Ernie Els, who has won the World match Play title at Wentworth seven times, but has yet to claim the PGA crown.

Fellow Weybridge star Oliver Wilson, beaten to the title at the second play-off hole by Spain's Miguel Angel Jimenez last year, tees off at 7.50, while Virginia Water's David Howell, winner of the title in 2006 starts at 8.55 with two other former winners Scott Drummond, of Scotland and Michael Campbell of New Zealand.

Watch out for daily reports on the BMW PGA on this website.