EDDIE Pepperell will be in the marquee group when the Betfred British Masters begins this morning.

The Abingdon golfer won last year’s event and begins his defence from the tenth hole at Hillside, Merseyside, at 8.30am.

He is alongside tournament host Tommy Fleetwood, who as world no 16 is the highest-ranked player in the field, and former Ryder Cup player Stephen Gallacher.