JJ Spaun secures BMW PGA Championship title after late show

Rory McIlroy finished tied for second, two shots behind Spaun

JJ Spaun is just the third American to win the BMW PGA Championship along with Arnold Palmer and Billy Horschel. Pic: Adam Davy/PA Wire.

Major champion JJ Spaun secured victory in the BMW PGA Championship at Wentworth to win his second DP World Tour title.

The 36-year-old finished two shots in front of four players including Rory McIlroy, Aaron Rai, Manuel Elvira and Adam Scott who were all tied in second place.

Elvira eagled the 17th to join Spaun at the summit but the Spaniard suffered a double bogey on the last which ultimately handed Spaun the win.

The 2025 US Open champion entered the final day at Wentworth just a shot off the overall lead but seemed to slip out of contention when he fell further behind following a run of eight pars.

But things soon changed as he completed a hat-trick of birdies from the 14th which catapulted him up the leaderboard and another birdie on the final hole gave him the outright lead.

Elvira had the chance to leapfrog Spaun on the final hole following an eagle on the 17th, which meant he needed a birdie on the 18th to win.

But his wait for a maiden DP World Tour title went on after he found the fairway bunker with his tee-shot before sending his bunker shot past the green and failing to hole from the sand to stay level.

With Spaun already in the clubhouse on 17 under, a double bogey from Elvira confirmed Spaun’s victory – his first title outside of the United States that will earn him around £1.1million.

Spaun became just the third American to win this title behind Arnold Palmer and Billy Horschel and the first player to win it on debut since Byeong-hun An in 2015.

Spaun had a point to prove after he was left out of the Presidents Cup side and admits it added fuel to his fire this weekend.

He said: “We [him and captain Brandt Snedeker] haven’t spoken. But yeah, I played with a huge chip on my shoulder. I definitely had something to prove this week, but everything happens for a reason.

“I’m so delighted to be here and just play this event. The extra motivation, I think that is the willpower that you kind of have, determination.

“Being left off the Presidents Cup team a couple of weeks ago was very disappointing and I wanted to prove that I deserved to be on that team. I took care of my business this week, so all the best to my mates next week at Medinah, but I’ll be on the couch watching.” 

He admitted how much the win meant to him in a place close to his family’s heart.

Spaun added: “It [winning] means so much. I’ve kind of blossomed into this player that I never thought I could be and to take my game across the world and more specifically here in England.

“It’s place that’s dear to my family’s heart, we’ve vacationed here quite a bit and the stars aligned for this week for me to come out on top.

“I’m just grateful to have had the opportunity and played well and gave myself a chance and came out with the W.”