JJ Spaun Wins BMW PGA Championship at Wentworth as Manuel Elvira Falters on 18th

Spaun secures victory at Wentworth

JJ Spaun captured the BMW PGA Championship at Wentworth Club on Sunday, finishing at 17 under par to claim his second DP World Tour title and his first professional victory outside the United States. The 2025 US Open champion closed with a five-under-par round of 67, earning approximately 1.3 million euros (over 1 million pounds). Spaun became the third American golfer to win the tournament, following Arnold Palmer and Billy Horschel, as well as the first player to lift the trophy on his Wentworth debut since Byeong-hun An in 2015. His victory came after he was left off the United States Presidents Cup roster captained by Brandt Snedeker for the upcoming contest at Medinah.

“I played with a huge chip on my shoulder. I definitely had something to prove this week, but everything happens for a reason.”

Elvira falters on the 72nd hole

The tournament turned on the par-five 18th hole on the West Course. Manuel Elvira, ranked 294th in the world and pursuing his maiden DP World Tour title, entered the final hole tied for the lead at 17 under par after carding an eagle on the 71st hole. Needing a birdie to win outright or a par to force a playoff with Spaun, Elvira pulled his layup into a fairway bunker. His subsequent bunker shot flew past the green, followed by a mistimed chip into another sand trap and a missed four-foot putt, resulting in a double-bogey seven. The misstep dropped Elvira into a four-way tie for second place at 15 under par alongside Rory McIlroy, Aaron Rai, and Adam Scott.

“It is devastating that I hit the wrong shot on the layup and left myself the toughest shot in the fairway bunker. I wasn't able to pull it off. I have played some of the best golf probably of my life.”

JJ Spaun17

Manuel Elvira15

Rory McIlroy15

Aaron Rai15

Adam Scott15

JJ Spaun

17 under par

Manuel Elvira

15 under par

Rory McIlroy

15 under par

Aaron Rai

15 under par

Adam Scott

15 under par

Data from the article text

McIlroy ties for second in Race to Dubai pursuit

Rory McIlroy entered Sunday two shots off the lead at 11 under par, playing alongside Adam Scott before an entourage that included Everton midfielder Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall. McIlroy carded a final-round 68 featuring five birdies and a bogey on the 11th hole, but was unable to convert several birdie opportunities on the greens. Despite missing out on a second Wentworth title following his 2014 victory, the tied-second finish provided McIlroy with critical ranking points in the DP World Tour Race to Dubai. Standings leader Patrick Reed, who entered the week more than 800 points ahead of McIlroy, had withdrawn from the tournament due to a hand injury, allowing McIlroy to surpass him by securing the necessary top-two finish.

Final round milestones and closing scenes

Spaun began his decisive push on the back nine, where he posted three consecutive birdies starting at the 14th hole before adding a final birdie on the 18th to set the clubhouse benchmark at 17 under. Earlier in the round, Frederic Lacroix recorded a hole-in-one on the 163-yard 14th hole to win a tournament car, while Tyrrell Hatton delivered an approach shot from deep rough through low branches to within inches of the pin. Overnight co-leader Filippo Celli fell out of contention during Sunday's closing stretch. The celebrations concluded with Spaun's wife waving a Jeremy Clarkson mask on the 18th green, referencing the American golfer's fondness for the British television programme Clarkson's Farm during his visits to the Cotswolds.