The tournament at The Belfry kicks off a golden autumn for the DP World Tour
Category: Sports
Former Masters champion Patrick Reed will tee it up for the Husqvarna British Masters at The Belfry this week, hoping to increase his lead at the top of the Race to Dubai. This year’s event marks the start of the Back 9, with increased ranking points on offer throughout. The tournament runs through to the Genesis Championship at the end of October before the season-ending Dubai Championship and DP World Tour Championship in Dubai in November.
Players are competing with the incentive of trying to claim a place in Europe’s 2027 Ryder Cup team, making this week’s competition particularly meaningful. Reed has enjoyed a sensational campaign to date, with two victories, a runner-up finish, and two additional top-ten results. He is also eyeing a return to the PGA Tour and hopes to reclaim his place on the American team.
"I’m ahead to returning to the United Kingdom and teeing it up in the British Masters," Reed said. "It’s been a really enjoyable season and hopefully we can continue the momentum at The Belfry. It is an iconic venue, and I can’t wait for the test of the Brabazon in front of the British fans."
Luke Donald, the former world number one and two-time Ryder Cup winning captain, will also play on the Brabazon Course for the third consecutive year. Donald will lead Europe in the 2027 Ryder Cup at Adare Manor, having claimed back-to-back victories at Marco Simone in 2023 and Bethpage Black in 2025. The biennial contest will celebrate its 100th anniversary next year, and Donald aims to become the first captain to lead a Ryder Cup team to three consecutive victories.
Unfortunately, the tournament coincides with the season-ending Tour Championship at East Lake, meaning that Rory McIlroy, Tommy Fleetwood, and Matthew Fitzpatrick will not participate. Donald expressed his excitement about the event, stating, "The Belfry holds a special place in British golf and Ryder Cup history, and I’m thrilled to be competing at the Husqvarna British Masters for the third consecutive year. The support from the crowds over the past couple of years has been brilliant and the energy really lifts you."
Another player to watch is Andy Sullivan, a four-time DP World Tour winner, who is returning to The Belfry looking to continue his excellent record. Sullivan currently occupies eighth place in the rankings after a brilliant start to the season, including a runner-up finish at the Hero Dubai Desert Classic in January. "The British Masters is a special event on the schedule and I’m excited to tee it up in front of my home fans again," Sullivan said. "I’m fortunate enough to have won on home soil in the past, but to win so close to home in front of my friends and family would be very special."
Danny Willett, the 2016 Masters champion, has a strong affinity for the Husqvarna British Masters, having hosted the event in 2021 and 2022. Willett, an eight-time DP World Tour winner, is hoping to add to his fond memories at The Belfry. "The Husqvarna British Masters is a tournament that means a lot to me, and I can’t wait to get back to The Belfry," Willett said. "It’s obviously an iconic club that I’m proud to be attached to and local to where I’m from in England."
The Brabazon Course at The Belfry, which was originally renowned for hosting the Ryder Cup, presents a unique challenge. The course is configured with twelve par-fours, three par-threes, and three par-fives, all for a par of 72. Winning scores at the British Masters at The Belfry since 2020 have ranged between ten and sixteen under par, indicating the level of competition and skill required to succeed.
Sir Nick Faldo, the tournament host and six-time major champion, emphasized the importance of the quality of the fairways at The Belfry. He noted, "I’ve played at the best golf courses around the UK and let me tell you – the quality of the fairways is so important for when you're playing." The course has undergone changes since its Ryder Cup days, with hundreds of saplings now fully grown, altering its character significantly.
Players will need to navigate some of the course's most challenging holes, including the risk-and-reward par-four 10th, which can be reached from the tee, and the brutal finishing hole that requires a drive over water and an approach over more water to a three-tier green. These elements contribute to the excitement and unpredictability of the tournament.
This year’s Husqvarna British Masters is not just a standalone event; it is part of a larger narrative in the DP World Tour. As the season progresses, players are vying for points that could secure their places in the upcoming Ryder Cup. The stakes are high, and the competition fierce, as they look to solidify their standings in the Race to Dubai.
Golf betting tips for the event include Tyrrell Hatton at 14/1, Angel Ayora at 33/1, Dan Brown at 40/1, Kota Kaneko at 125/1, and Danny Willett at 250/1. These odds indicate the competitive nature of the field, with several players seen as serious contenders for the title. Hatton, in particularly, is viewed as a strong candidate, having shown impressive form earlier in the season.
As the tournament begins on August 27, 2026, fans and players alike are eager to see how the competition will shape up. The event serves as a key moment in the DP World Tour calendar and as a platform for players to showcase their skills and potentially secure their futures in professional golf.
With the total prize fund set at $3.5 million, the winner will collect 5,000 Race to Dubai points and 1,500 Ryder Cup points, making this event a must-watch for golf enthusiasts. The excitement surrounding the Husqvarna British Masters is building, and attention will turn to The Belfry as the players take to the course.