Andrew's English Trophy (HPT) Preview
Last week saw John Gough win his second HPT event of the year, and third ever, and all but secure his DPWT card for next year, to say nothing of putting him a single win away from a battlefield promotion. The 2023 Walker Cupper may not have enjoyed quite as big a celebration as the 2026 class enjoyed in Lahinch on Sunday, but he earned a big night. The other thing he did was prove me very wrong indeed, in company with anyone else who opined on the week – it seems that bigger hitters didn’t prevail in the Rosa Challenge, and his close competitors further demonstrated that. I was in less company, however, with my vociferous support for Caleb Surratt and he was not good enough – dreadful in the first round and consistently below the standards I expected to finish without challenging even remotely. The circus rolls on, and so must we.
The Tournament
After no events in England for the last few years, the HPT is making up for lost time with two events this year. After the English Open in June up in Worcestershire, we’re now at the English Trophy, which takes place in the commuter belt to the west of London (or on the outskirts of Reading, if you are from around here.) This is another new event and it takes place at a relatively young course, The Cavendish. This is longish at 7,333 yards for an orthodox par-72, and it is a heathland track. Think of Sunningdale and Walton Heath – exposed, rolling, and in many ways an inland links course, though with some attributes that are unique.
There will also be weather to deal with, though less than would be the case if they were playing today. Yes, September has brought an abrupt end to England’s long, hot summer and this course will look a lot greener than Birkdale did as we suffer the same sort of rain that disrupted the British Masters a couple of weeks ago. So the course will be softer than expected and I imagine that practices will have been disrupted. However, with draining soil and limited rain or wind during the tournament, hopefully we’ll get 72 holes completed. We might see a bit of a draw bias for the early starts on Thursday, but nothing I’m going to worry too much about.
Instead, my focus is on players who have experience in heathland conditions, or failing that in links or exposed conditions, and I’m looking in particular for accuracy on approach and for more length of the tee than this course usually requires. With six-of-the-top-21 on the HPT rankings from England, it is easy to look for local success and I suspect that will be significant. We have relatively few useful points of reference from other events, though it is worth looking at the performance of anyone who has taken part in US Open Qualifying at Walton Heath in the last couple of years, as well as DPWT links events, or HPT events on similar courses (2025 Danish Challenge, the NI Open when that happened, the erstwhile British Challenge, etc.) as well as similar events on the Clutch, Tartan or EPT satellite tours.
The Selections
Last week, I made the case that Caleb Surratt was capable of outclassing his opponents and was a backable price at 10/1. He’s 12/1 now and I came close to taking the same strategy again. Yes, his poor performance last week put me off but he really is better than the vast majority of these golfers. In the end, it was the unusual conditions of this course that put me off. I just couldn’t quite get there.
I am, however, taking a win-only price on one of the favourites, and putting half of my investment into Andrew Wilson, who rather damaged his price with a second place finish in the Rosa Challenge last week, but in doing so also showed he’s in great form. That was his second runner-up of the season (he’s been third twice on the Clutch Pro Tour) and, with two other top tens, propelled him to 11th in the Road to Majorca standings. Moreover, he’s made for this sort of golf – he was by a margin the best of the HPT regulars in U.S. Open Qualifying and if you look at those around him, his performance at Walton Heath was extraordinary. He’s got good results from the Nexo and Dunhill Links at DPWT level and from the NI Open at Galgorm at this level. Look, it’s tough to take such a short price for a longstanding maiden at this level, but this feels like the week to do it – when a classy player is at the ideal venue and in spectacular form.
Second on my list is perhaps the only player who’ll be more comfortable here. George Bloor is a member here at The Cavendish, and that’s worth plenty at a new venue. He’s always been a specialist in this sort of golf, with arguably his best performance yet coming when he qualified for The Open with a great day at West Lancs in 2025. Although his career hasn’t set itself ablaze yet, he’s having his best season yet with second in the Swiss Challenge and a return to form last week with 18th in the Rosa Challenge. At 69th, he needs a good week to guarantee himself starts in China and HPT status for next year.
Finally, I’m taking a real flyer on a player who I think is overpriced, Jack Bigham, who is one of a few talented amateurs in the field. The 22-year-old has just graduated from Florida State, where he spent four years and reached 33rd in the world rankings. He is one of several who can be frustrated to have missed out on the Walker Cup – he was 60 places higher in the world rankings than eventual hero Josh Hill. I can’t help but wonder if he’ll take inspiration from that snub (he did well in the 2023 Walker Cup, which also showed he was a fair links player as he grabbed one-of-two points available to him at St Andrews.) In a weak year at this level, a player with his class can’t be ignored, even if this might be too much too soon, it is worth a gamble.
Andrew Wilson, 20/1, 3pts win only, Bet365
George Bloor, 70/1, 1pt e/w, 1/4 odds 5 places, Bet365
Jack Bigham, 1000/1, 0.5pts e/w, 1/4 odds 5 places, Bet365
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