BMW PGA Championship

BMW PGA Championship
Tournament information
Location	Virginia Water, Surrey, England
Established	1955
Course(s)	Wentworth Club
Par	72
Length	7,267 yards (6,645 m)
Tour(s)	European Tour
Format	Stroke play
Prize fund	US$9,000,000
Month played	September
Tournament record score
Aggregate	266 Brian Bamford (1961)
To par	−21 An Byeong-hun (2015)
Current champion
	Billy Horschel
Location map
	Wentworth Club Location in England Wentworth Club Location in Surrey

The BMW PGA Championship is an annual men's professional golf tournament on the European Tour. It was founded in 1955 by the Professional Golfers' Association, and originally called the British PGA Championship.

History

The BMW PGA Championship has usually been played each May, on the weekend of the UK's Spring Bank Holiday, over the West Course at the Wentworth Club in Surrey, England. The PGA European Tour has its headquarters at the club and as the tour's home tournament, the BMW PGA Championship is often regarded as the flagship event on the European Tour. The tournament switched to September in 2019 as part of a revamp of the golfing calendar in which the US PGA Championship moved to May.^[1]

It has usually had the highest prize money of any event which the tour organises, but this changed in 2009 with the introduction of the Race to Dubai, and the $10 million Dubai World Championship at the end of the season. There are other more lucrative events than the BMW PGA Championship which are part of the European Tour schedule, such as the majors and the World Golf Championship events, but these are organised by other bodies. It is also the European Tour's designated "Premier event" for the purposes of the Official World Golf Rankings, with a minimum of 64 ranking points available to the winner.^[2]

The winner of the tournament is given an exemption into that season's U.S. Open and the next three Open Championships.

In 2000, Colin Montgomerie became the only player to win three years in a row.^[3]

In 2021, Billy Horschel became only the second American to win the event, the first since Arnold Palmer in 1975.^[4]

Winners

	European Tour (Rolex Series)	2022–
	European Tour (Flagship event and Rolex Series)	2017–2021
	European Tour (Flagship event)	1990–2016
	European Tour (Regular)	1972–1989
	Pre-European Tour	1955–1971

#	Year	Winner	Score	To par	Margin of victory	Runner(s)-up	Winner's share (€)	Venue
BMW PGA Championship
70th	2024	Billy Horschel (2)	268	−20	Playoff	Thriston Lawrence Rory McIlroy	1,370,338	Wentworth Club
69th	2023	Ryan Fox	270	−18	1 stroke	Tyrrell Hatton Aaron Rai	1,435,858	Wentworth Club
68th	2022	Shane Lowry	199^[a]	−17	1 stroke	Rory McIlroy Jon Rahm	1,351,106	Wentworth Club
67th	2021	Billy Horschel	269	−19	1 stroke	Kiradech Aphibarnrat Laurie Canter Jamie Donaldson	1,125,952	Wentworth Club
66th	2020	Tyrrell Hatton	269	−19	4 strokes	Victor Perez	974,457	Wentworth Club
65th	2019	Danny Willett	268	−20	3 strokes	Jon Rahm	1,056,662	Wentworth Club
64th	2018	Francesco Molinari	271	−17	2 strokes	Rory McIlroy	995,394	Wentworth Club
63rd	2017	Alex Norén	277	−11	2 strokes	Francesco Molinari	1,041,939	Wentworth Club
62nd	2016	Chris Wood	279	−9	1 stroke	Rikard Karlberg	833,330	Wentworth Club
61st	2015	An Byeong-hun	267	−21	6 strokes	Thongchai Jaidee Miguel Ángel Jiménez	833,330	Wentworth Club
60th	2014	Rory McIlroy	274	−14	1 stroke	Shane Lowry	791,660	Wentworth Club
59th	2013	Matteo Manassero	278	−10	Playoff	Simon Khan Marc Warren	791,660	Wentworth Club
58th	2012	Luke Donald (2)	273	−15	4 strokes	Paul Lawrie Justin Rose	750,000	Wentworth Club
57th	2011	Luke Donald	278	−6	Playoff	Lee Westwood	750,000	Wentworth Club
56th	2010	Simon Khan	278	−6	1 stroke	Fredrik Andersson Hed Luke Donald	750,000	Wentworth Club
55th	2009	Paul Casey	271	−17	1 stroke	Ross Fisher	750,000	Wentworth Club
54th	2008	Miguel Ángel Jiménez	277	−11	Playoff	Oliver Wilson	750,000	Wentworth Club
53rd	2007	Anders Hansen (2)	280	−8	Playoff	Justin Rose	725,000	Wentworth Club
BMW Championship
52nd	2006	David Howell	271	−17	5 strokes	Simon Khan	708,330	Wentworth Club
51st	2005	Ángel Cabrera	273	−15	2 strokes	Paul McGinley	666,660	Wentworth Club
Volvo PGA Championship
50th	2004	Scott Drummond	269	−19	2 strokes	Ángel Cabrera	625,000	Wentworth Club
49th	2003	Ignacio Garrido	270	−18	Playoff	Trevor Immelman	583,330	Wentworth Club
48th	2002	Anders Hansen	269	−19	5 strokes	Colin Montgomerie Eduardo Romero	528,708	Wentworth Club
47th	2001	Andrew Oldcorn	272	−16	2 strokes	Ángel Cabrera	544,521	Wentworth Club
46th	2000	Colin Montgomerie (3)	271	−17	3 strokes	Darren Clarke Lee Westwood Andrew Coltart	415,130	Wentworth Club
45th	1999	Colin Montgomerie (2)	270	−18	5 strokes	Mark James	303,350	Wentworth Club
44th	1998	Colin Montgomerie	274	−14	1 stroke	Ernie Els Gary Orr Patrik Sjöland	280,000	Wentworth Club
43rd	1997	Ian Woosnam (2)	275	−13	2 strokes	Darren Clarke Ernie Els Nick Faldo	256,676	Wentworth Club
42nd	1996	Costantino Rocca	274	−14	2 strokes	Nick Faldo Paul Lawrie	233,324	Wentworth Club
41st	1995	Bernhard Langer (3)	279	−9	1 stroke	Michael Campbell Per-Ulrik Johansson	210,000	Wentworth Club
40th	1994	José María Olazábal	271	−17	1 stroke	Ernie Els	186,662	Wentworth Club
39th	1993	Bernhard Langer (2)	274	−14	6 strokes	Gordon Brand Jnr Colin Montgomerie Frank Nobilo	163,324	Wentworth Club
38th	1992	Tony Johnstone	272	−16	2 strokes	Gordon Brand Jnr José María Olazábal	140,000	Wentworth Club
37th	1991	Seve Ballesteros (2)	271	−17	Playoff	Colin Montgomerie	116,662	Wentworth Club
36th	1990	Mike Harwood	271	−17	1 stroke	John Bland Nick Faldo	93,324	Wentworth Club
35th	1989	Nick Faldo (4)	272	−16	2 strokes	Ian Woosnam	81,662	Wentworth Club
34th	1988	Ian Woosnam	274	−14	2 strokes	Seve Ballesteros Mark James	70,000	Wentworth Club
Whyte & Mackay PGA Championship
33rd	1987	Bernhard Langer	270	−18	4 strokes	Seve Ballesteros	51,324	Wentworth Club
32nd	1986	Rodger Davis	281	−7	Playoff	Des Smyth	49,000	Wentworth Club
31st	1985	Paul Way	282	−6	Playoff	Sandy Lyle	42,000	Wentworth Club
30th	1984	Howard Clark	204^[b]	−12	2 strokes	Gordon J. Brand Bernhard Langer	35,000	Wentworth Club
Sun Alliance PGA Championship
29th	1983	Seve Ballesteros	278	−2	2 strokes	Ken Brown Sandy Lyle	21,000	Royal St George's
28th	1982	Tony Jacklin (2)	284	−4	Playoff	Bernhard Langer	18,662	Hillside
27th	1981	Nick Faldo (3)	274	−10	4 strokes	Ken Brown Neil Coles	16,324	Ganton
26th	1980	Nick Faldo (2)	283	+3	1 stroke	Ken Brown	16,324	Royal St George's
Colgate PGA Championship
25th	1979	Vicente Fernández	288	E	1 stroke	Baldovino Dassù Gary Player	11,662	St Andrews Links
24th	1978	Nick Faldo	278	−10	7 strokes	Ken Brown	14,000	Royal Birkdale
Penfold PGA Championship
23rd	1977	Manuel Piñero	283	+3	3 strokes	Peter Oosterhuis	14,000	Royal St George's
22nd	1976	Neil Coles	280	E	Playoff	Eamonn Darcy Gary Player	14,000	Royal St George's
21st	1975	Arnold Palmer	285	+5	2 strokes	Eamonn Darcy	14,000	Royal St George's
Viyella PGA Championship
20th	1974	Maurice Bembridge	278	−10	1 stroke	Peter Oosterhuis	5,600	Wentworth Club
19th	1973	Peter Oosterhuis	280	−8	3 strokes	Dale Hayes Donald Swaelens	3,071	Wentworth Club
18th	1972	Tony Jacklin	279	−9	3 strokes	Peter Oosterhuis	3,070	Wentworth Club
Schweppes PGA Championship
1970–71: No tournament
17th	1969	Bernard Gallacher	293	+5	1 stroke	John Garner Guy Wolstenholme		Ashburnham
15th	1968 (op.)^[c]	David Talbot	276	−8	5 strokes	Bernard Hunt		Dunbar
13th	1967 (op.)^[c]	Malcolm Gregson	275	−13	3 strokes	Hugh Boyle		Hunstanton
Piccadilly PGA Close Championship
16th	1968 (cl.)^[c]	Peter Townsend	275	−5	1 stroke	Neil Coles		Royal Mid-Surrey
PGA Close Championship
14th	1967 (cl.)^[c]	Brian Huggett	271	−13	8 strokes	Jimmy Hitchcock Bernard Hunt		Thorndon Park
Schweppes PGA Close Championship
12th	1966	Guy Wolstenholme	278	−2	4 strokes	George Will		Saunton
11th	1965	Peter Alliss (3)	286	−6	Playoff^[d]	Peter Butler		Prince's
10th	1964	Tony Grubb	287	−1	2 strokes	Lionel Platts		Western Gailes
9th	1963	Peter Butler	306		2 strokes	Bobby Walker	1,000	Royal Birkdale
8th	1962	Peter Alliss (2)	287		1 stroke	Ralph Moffitt Christy O'Connor Snr		Little Aston Sutton Coldfield
7th	1961	Brian Bamford	266	−11	3 strokes	Peter Alliss Christy O'Connor Snr		Royal Mid-Surrey Richmond
PGA Close Championship
6th	1960	Arnold Stickley	247^[e]		2 strokes	Dai Rees		Coventry
5th	1959	Dai Rees	283		6 strokes	Bernard Hunt David Snell		Ashburnham
4th	1958	Harry Bradshaw	287		1 stroke	Dai Rees		Maesdu
3rd	1957	Peter Alliss	286		3 strokes	Charlie Ward		Maesdu
2nd	1956	Charlie Ward	282		Playoff^[f]	Eric Brown		Maesdu
1st	1955	Ken Bousfield	277		2 strokes	Max Faulkner		Pannal Harrogate (Starbeck)

Media coverage

Currently in the United Kingdom, all four rounds of the BMW PGA Championship are shown live by Sky Sports with highlights being shown by the BBC.

Notes

^ Shortened to 54 holes due to Operation London Bridge.^[5]
^ Shortened to 54 holes due to weather.
^ ^a ^b ^c ^d In 1967 and 1968, both open and closed championships were held.
^ Alliss won on the first hole of a sudden-death playoff.
^ Shortened to 63 holes due to weather.
^ Ward defeated Brown in a 36 hole playoff; Ward 139, Brown 141.

References

^ "US PGA Championship: Golf's fourth major moved from August to May". BBC Sport. Retrieved 12 August 2017.
^ "How the system works". Official World Golf Ranking. Retrieved 23 October 2016.
^ "Montgomerie Wins 3rd Straight Volvo". The New York Times. 30 May 2000. Retrieved 23 May 2009.
^ "BMW PGA Championship: Billy Horschel cards bogey-free 65 to claim one-shot win at Wentworth". Sky Sports. 12 September 2021.
^ Harig, Bob (9 September 2022). "BMW PGA Championship Shortened to 54 Holes". Sports Illustrated. Retrieved 24 October 2024.

External links

Coverage on the European Tour's official site
BMW Golfsport – official BMW golf site

51°24′N 0°35′W / 51.40°N 0.59°W / 51.40; -0.59

[6] Shortened to 54 holes due to Operation London Bridge.^[5]

[7] Shortened to 54 holes due to weather.

[openclosed-8] In 1967 and 1968, both open and closed championships were held.

[9] Alliss won on the first hole of a sudden-death playoff.

[10] Shortened to 63 holes due to weather.

[11] Ward defeated Brown in a 36 hole playoff; Ward 139, Brown 141.

[1] "US PGA Championship: Golf's fourth major moved from August to May". BBC Sport. Retrieved 12 August 2017.

[2] "How the system works". Official World Golf Ranking. Retrieved 23 October 2016.

[3] "Montgomerie Wins 3rd Straight Volvo". The New York Times. 30 May 2000. Retrieved 23 May 2009.

[4] "BMW PGA Championship: Billy Horschel cards bogey-free 65 to claim one-shot win at Wentworth". Sky Sports. 12 September 2021.

[5] Harig, Bob (9 September 2022). "BMW PGA Championship Shortened to 54 Holes". Sports Illustrated. Retrieved 24 October 2024.

[1]

[2]

[3]

[4]

[a]

[b]

[c]

[d]

[e]

[f]

[5]

v t e BMW PGA Championships
1972 1973 1974 1975 1976 1977 1978 1979
1980 1981 1982 1983 1984 1985 1986 1987 1988 1989
1990 1991 1992 1993 1994 1995 1996 1997 1998 1999
2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009
2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018 2019
2020 2021

v t e European Tour events
Major championships	Masters Tournament PGA Championship U.S. Open The Open Championship
Rolex Series	Hero Dubai Desert Classic Genesis Scottish Open (P) BMW PGA Championship Abu Dhabi Championship DP World Tour Championship
Other Race to Dubai tournaments	BMW Australian PGA Championship (A) ISPS Handa Australian Open (A) Nedbank Golf Challenge (S) Alfred Dunhill Championship (S) AfrAsia Bank Mauritius Open (S) Ras Al Khaimah Championship Bahrain Championship TBC (Middle East) Magical Kenya Open Investec South African Open Championship (S) Joburg Open (S) Porsche Singapore Classic Hero Indian Open (I) Volvo China Open (C) TBC (Asia) Turkish Open Soudal Open Austrian Alpine Open KLM Open Italian Open BMW International Open ISCO Championship (P) Barracuda Championship (P) TBC (Europe) Danish Golf Championship Betfred British Masters Omega European Masters Amgen Irish Open FedEx Open de France Alfred Dunhill Links Championship Acciona Open de España TBC (Europe) Genesis Championship (K)
Team events	Ryder Cup Team Cup
Other	European Tour Qualifying School J. P. McManus Pro-Am Olympic Games Former events
(A) – co-sanctioned by the PGA Tour of Australasia; (C) – co-sanctioned by the China Tour; (I) – co-sanctioned by the Professional Golf Tour of India; (J) – co-sanctioned by the Japan Golf Tour; (K) – co-sanctioned by the Korean Tour; (P) - co-sanctioned by the PGA Tour; (S) - co-sanctioned by the Sunshine Tour.