Henrik Stenson, Sergio Garcia, Ian Poulter and Paul Casey will all miss next month‘s BMW PGA Championship at Wentworth, the European Tour have said.

The decision by the quartet not to play in the tour‘s flagship event comes as a big blow to the organisers.

Ernie Els has masterminded major alterations to Wentworth in recent years and the changes have not met with unanimous approval by the players.

It has never been a happy hunting ground for Stenson, Garcia or Poulter but Casey has good memories of the West Course layout.

Englishman Casey won the PGA Championship at Wentworth in 2009 and also lifted the World Match Play title at the same venue in 2006.

Stenson has only managed two top-10 finishes since the Swede made his debut in the tour’s flagship event in 2001 while 10th-ranked Garcia went 12 years between 2001-12 without playing in the competition.

Social media row

European Ryder Cup talisman Poulter has become embroiled in a row on social media after making his feelings clear about the tournament on his Twitter account.

“I‘ve played 13 PGA‘s at Wentworth and had 1 Top 10,” the Englishman tweeted. “I‘ve had 8 MC (missed cuts). Would (world record sprinter) Usain Bolt compete in a marathon? I didn‘t think so ... Enough said.”

At the China Open Alexander Levy made an excellent start to his defence carding five birdies and two bogeys in an opening 69 to lie just one shot off the lead held by Bradley Dredge, Michael Hendry and David Howell.