BMW PGA Championship

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.

BMW PGA Championship
Tournament information
LocationVirginia Water, Surrey, England
Established1955
Course(s)Wentworth Club
Par72
Length7,267 yards (6,645 m)
Tour(s)European Tour
FormatStroke play
Prize fundUS$9,000,000
Month playedSeptember
Tournament record score
Aggregate266 Brian Bamford (1961)
To par−21 An Byeong-hun (2015)
Current champion
New Zealand Ryan Fox
Location map
Wentworth Club is located in England
Wentworth Club
Wentworth Club
Location in England
Wentworth Club is located in Surrey
Wentworth Club
Wentworth Club
Location in Surrey

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 Tour1955–1971
#YearWinnerScoreTo parMargin of
victory
Runner(s)-upWinner's
share ()
Venue
BMW PGA Championship
69th2023 Ryan Fox270−181 stroke Tyrrell Hatton
Aaron Rai
1,435,858Wentworth Club
68th2022 Shane Lowry199[a]−171 stroke Rory McIlroy
Jon Rahm
1,351,106Wentworth Club
67th2021 Billy Horschel269−191 stroke Kiradech Aphibarnrat
Laurie Canter
Jamie Donaldson
1,125,952Wentworth Club
66th2020 Tyrrell Hatton269−194 strokes Victor Perez974,457Wentworth Club
65th2019 Danny Willett268−203 strokes Jon Rahm1,056,662Wentworth Club
64th2018 Francesco Molinari271−172 strokes Rory McIlroy995,394Wentworth Club
63rd2017 Alex Norén277−112 strokes Francesco Molinari1,041,939Wentworth Club
62nd2016 Chris Wood279−91 stroke Rikard Karlberg833,330Wentworth Club
61st2015 An Byeong-hun267−216 strokes Thongchai Jaidee
Miguel Ángel Jiménez
833,330Wentworth Club
60th2014 Rory McIlroy274−141 stroke Shane Lowry791,660Wentworth Club
59th2013 Matteo Manassero278−10Playoff Simon Khan
Marc Warren
791,660Wentworth Club
58th2012 Luke Donald (2)273−154 strokes Paul Lawrie
Justin Rose
750,000Wentworth Club
57th2011 Luke Donald278−6Playoff Lee Westwood750,000Wentworth Club
56th2010 Simon Khan278−61 stroke Fredrik Andersson Hed
Luke Donald
750,000Wentworth Club
55th2009 Paul Casey271−171 stroke Ross Fisher750,000Wentworth Club
54th2008 Miguel Ángel Jiménez277−11Playoff Oliver Wilson750,000Wentworth Club
53rd2007 Anders Hansen (2)280−8Playoff Justin Rose725,000Wentworth Club
BMW Championship
52nd2006 David Howell271−175 strokes Simon Khan708,330Wentworth Club
51st2005 Ángel Cabrera273−152 strokes Paul McGinley666,660Wentworth Club
Volvo PGA Championship
50th2004 Scott Drummond269−192 strokes Ángel Cabrera625,000Wentworth Club
49th2003 Ignacio Garrido270−18Playoff Trevor Immelman583,330Wentworth Club
48th2002 Anders Hansen269−195 strokes Colin Montgomerie
Eduardo Romero
528,708Wentworth Club
47th2001 Andrew Oldcorn272−162 strokes Ángel Cabrera544,521Wentworth Club
46th2000 Colin Montgomerie (3)271−173 strokes Darren Clarke
Lee Westwood
Andrew Coltart
415,130Wentworth Club
45th1999 Colin Montgomerie (2)270−185 strokes Mark James303,350Wentworth Club
44th1998 Colin Montgomerie274−141 stroke Ernie Els
Gary Orr
Patrik Sjöland
280,000Wentworth Club
43rd1997 Ian Woosnam (2)275−132 strokes Darren Clarke
Ernie Els
Nick Faldo
256,676Wentworth Club
42nd1996 Costantino Rocca274−142 strokes Nick Faldo
Paul Lawrie
233,324Wentworth Club
41st1995 Bernhard Langer (3)279−91 stroke Michael Campbell
Per-Ulrik Johansson
210,000Wentworth Club
40th1994 José María Olazábal271−171 stroke Ernie Els186,662Wentworth Club
39th1993 Bernhard Langer (2)274−146 strokes Gordon Brand Jnr
Colin Montgomerie
Frank Nobilo
163,324Wentworth Club
38th1992 Tony Johnstone272−162 strokes Gordon Brand Jnr
José María Olazábal
140,000Wentworth Club
37th1991 Seve Ballesteros (2)271−17Playoff Colin Montgomerie116,662Wentworth Club
36th1990 Mike Harwood271−171 stroke John Bland
Nick Faldo
93,324Wentworth Club
35th1989 Nick Faldo (4)272−162 strokes Ian Woosnam81,662Wentworth Club
34th1988 Ian Woosnam274−142 strokes Seve Ballesteros
Mark James
70,000Wentworth Club
Whyte & Mackay PGA Championship
33rd1987 Bernhard Langer270−184 strokes Seve Ballesteros51,324Wentworth Club
32nd1986 Rodger Davis281−7Playoff Des Smyth49,000Wentworth Club
31st1985 Paul Way282−6Playoff Sandy Lyle42,000Wentworth Club
30th1984 Howard Clark204[b]−122 strokes Gordon J. Brand
Bernhard Langer
35,000Wentworth Club
Sun Alliance PGA Championship
29th1983 Seve Ballesteros278−22 strokes Ken Brown
Sandy Lyle
21,000Royal St George's
28th1982 Tony Jacklin (2)284−4Playoff Bernhard Langer18,662Hillside
27th1981 Nick Faldo (3)274−104 strokes Ken Brown
Neil Coles
16,324Ganton
26th1980 Nick Faldo (2)283+31 stroke Ken Brown16,324Royal St George's
Colgate PGA Championship
25th1979 Vicente Fernández288E1 stroke Baldovino Dassù
Gary Player
11,662St Andrews Links
24th1978 Nick Faldo278−107 strokes Ken Brown14,000Royal Birkdale
Penfold PGA Championship
23rd1977 Manuel Piñero283+33 strokes Peter Oosterhuis14,000Royal St George's
22nd1976 Neil Coles280EPlayoff Eamonn Darcy
Gary Player
14,000Royal St George's
21st1975 Arnold Palmer285+52 strokes Eamonn Darcy14,000Royal St George's
Viyella PGA Championship
20th1974 Maurice Bembridge278−101 stroke Peter Oosterhuis5,600Wentworth Club
19th1973 Peter Oosterhuis280−83 strokes Dale Hayes
Donald Swaelens
3,071Wentworth Club
18th1972 Tony Jacklin279−93 strokes Peter Oosterhuis3,070Wentworth Club
Schweppes PGA Championship
1970–71: No tournament
17th1969 Bernard Gallacher293+51 stroke John Garner
Guy Wolstenholme
Ashburnham
15th1968
(op.)[c]
David Talbot276−85 strokes Bernard HuntDunbar
13th1967
(op.)[c]
Malcolm Gregson275−133 strokes Hugh BoyleHunstanton
Piccadilly PGA Close Championship
16th1968
(cl.)[c]
Peter Townsend275−51 stroke Neil ColesRoyal Mid-Surrey
PGA Close Championship
14th1967
(cl.)[c]
Brian Huggett271−138 strokes Jimmy Hitchcock
Bernard Hunt
Thorndon Park
Schweppes PGA Close Championship
12th1966 Guy Wolstenholme278−24 strokes George WillSaunton
11th1965 Peter Alliss (3)286−6Playoff[d] Peter ButlerPrince's
10th1964 Tony Grubb287−12 strokes Lionel PlattsWestern Gailes
9th1963 Peter Butler3062 strokes Bobby Walker1,000Royal Birkdale
8th1962 Peter Alliss (2)2871 stroke Ralph Moffitt
Christy O'Connor Snr
Little Aston
Sutton Coldfield
7th1961 Brian Bamford266−113 strokes Peter Alliss
Christy O'Connor Snr
Royal Mid-Surrey
Richmond
PGA Close Championship
6th1960 Arnold Stickley247[e]2 strokes Dai ReesCoventry
5th1959 Dai Rees2836 strokes Bernard Hunt
David Snell
Ashburnham
4th1958 Harry Bradshaw2871 stroke Dai ReesMaesdu
3rd1957 Peter Alliss2863 strokes Charlie WardMaesdu
2nd1956 Charlie Ward282Playoff[f] Eric BrownMaesdu
1st1955 Ken Bousfield2772 strokes Max FaulknerPannal
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

References

External links

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