Erik van Rooyen will join Branden Grace and impressive left-hander Robert MacIntyre for the opening two days when Wentworth hosts the BMW PGA Championship.

Van Rooyen broke through a few weeks ago when he edged Matt Fitzpatrick at the Scandinavian Invitation while Grace hasn’t played since the first week of the PGA TOUR playoffs.

Such has been the rise of Van Rooyen that he will start as the second-highest ranked South African in the field behind Justin Harding, who narrowly missed out on earning his playing privileges in America via the Korn Ferry Tour finals series, but ahead of Grace.

Grace, who won the 2017 Nedbank Golf Challenge, has seen his world ranking drop to 86th and will start the business end of the Race to Dubai well off the pace in 94th place.

The strength of the field this week offers a world-ranking bounty which means both Van Rooyen and Grace will be looking to cash in, particularly with Presidents Cup ambitions still on the line.

The trio are off at 8:20am, some 35 minutes before an all Open Championship group in Francesco Molinari, also the defending champion, current Champion Golfer of the Year Shane Lowry and four-time Major championship Rory McIlroy, who ended the season as the PGA TOUR’s best after his win at the Tour Championship.

The home crowds will have plenty to cheer ten minutes later when the all-English trio of Tommy Fleetwood, Eddie Pepperell and Matt Wallace get their campaigns under way.

American Tony Finau will play alongside two more home favourites in fellow 2018 Ryder Cup players Paul Casey and Ian Poulter at 12:55pm.

The highest-ranked Englishman in the field is Justin Rose and he tees off alongside Jon Rahm – chasing a record-extending fourth Rolex Series victory – and Patrick Reed at 12:45pm.

Joining Grace, Van Rooyen and Harding are another dozen South Africans, including Major winners Ernie Els and Trevor Immelman as well as big-hitting Dean Burmester and Rolex Series winner in Scotland last year, Brandon Stone.