Rory McIlroy to play at the BMW PGA Championship in boost to DP World Tour

Northern Ireland’s Rory McIlroy reacts after an eagle on the 10th green during day three of The Open at the Old Course, St Andrews (Jane Barlow/PA)

World number three Rory McIlroy is to return to the BMW PGA Championship for the first time in three years this summer as one of the flagship events on the DP World Tour boosts its star quality.

The tournament, which takes place in early September at Wentworth, is one of only four on the tour with a prize fund of £6.6million which is only surpassed by the £8.2m season-ending DP World Tour Championship in Dubai.