British Masters: Power ranking the top 10 at Walton Heath

The British Masters finds a new home in a European classic this week, as Walton Heath plays host to some of the European Tour’s best. Who will come out on top as the Race to Dubai nears its conclusion?

The European Tour sticks in the United Kingdom this week as we head from Scotland to Great Britain for the British Masters.

This year’s host site is a first in Walton Heath, though this track is no newcomer. It staged the 1981 Ryder Cup and the European Open five times between 1978 and 1991. It is also a U.S. Open International section qualifying site.

Justin Rose is the host player as Ian Poulter, Luke Donald and Lee Westwood have held the title in recent years.

Rose is among a swath of top Europeans using this week as a Race to Dubai Final Series tuneup.

Walton Heath’s Old Course can stretch over 7,400 yards but is not necessarily a bomber’s course with deep bunkers and heather-lined fairways putting an emphasis on getting the ball in play.

The greens look to be fairly large and project to run fast as far as European Tour standards go.

Without a ton of concrete course history to rely on, the safe bet is to trust in current form and a season’s worth of stats.

Only one Englishman has won the British Masters in the last four years. The tide could change, though, as this week’s top-10 features quite a bit of the Union Jack.

Weather in Walton on the Hill, Surrey, looks cool and damp. Imagine that. With rain possible on all four days, this could be the week to roll with a grinder or two.

Here are my top contenders at the British Masters.