JJ Spaun is the winner of the BMW PGA Championship at Wentworth, becoming only the third player from the United States to win the tournament. Spaun, the 2024 US Open champion, joins Billy Horschel and Arnold Palmer on the list of American winners of the event. The list of winners includes Tony Jacklin, Nick Faldo, Seve Ballesteros, Jose Maria, and Rory McIlroy.
Spaun shot five under par, 67, on Sunday, with four birdies in the final five holes. He will receive a cheque for approximately £1.1 million, and this is his first title outside the United States. After the tournament, he said that his exclusion from the US Presidents Cup team had been the driving force behind his success. He said he received the news in a 45-second telephone call, in which he was told that he was 'the odd man out'. "I was playing with a huge chip on my shoulder," said Spaun, adding that he had definitely had something to prove this week, but that everything happens for a reason.
Spaun stated that he had to do everything the hard way in his career. He did not receive scholarships, was a walk-on, and had to earn his PGA Tour card the hard way, never receiving sponsor invitations. "I just had to do everything the hard way," he said. He added that he had been very disappointed by his omission from the Presidents Cup team a few weeks ago, and that he wanted to prove that he deserved a place on that team.
His wife, Melody, walked the grounds of the Surrey club with a Jeremy Clarkson mask. Spaun said that he and his wife had taken a liking to Clarkson and English culture, that they were going on holiday to the Cotswolds in December, and that they were really enjoying the series Clarkson's Farm. He went to a pub in the hope of spotting Clarkson, but he was not there. His wife told him that he would have a surprising guest accompanying him this week if he played in the tournament. "Jeremy was in spirit and I think he brought me luck," said Spaun.
Manuel Elvira, a 30-year-old from Santander, 294th in the world, barely held back his tears on Sunday. He stood on the tee with his first victory in sight. He made an eagle on the 17th hole, and par on the 18th would have secured a play-off with Spa on 17 under par, who was already in the clubhouse. Elvira chose an iron for the 18th, but his conservative shot ended up in the bunker by the fairway. He missed the green with his approach, and almost ended up in the stands. After receiving a free drop, he put the fourth shot in the sand, and from the bunker it took him two more putts. He lost second place directly with a double bogey.
"It was devastating that I played the wrong shot at the right moment and left myself with the hardest shot in the bunker by the fairway, which I failed to execute," said Elvira. He added that he had played the best golf of his life. His brother, Ignacio, finished in a tie for 44th, and consoled his younger brother as they left the 18th green.
Former European team player Trish Johnson spoke to BBC Radio 5 Live. "It is a truly awful feeling," she said. "Just 20 minutes ago he had that huge dream. Watching it unfold on the 18th was, in golfing terms, quite tragic." She added that he must remember that he had brought himself into that position. "On such a big stage, we will probably never see him in a position to win a tournament of this class, and that is very sad," Johnson said.
Elv finished the tournament at 15 under par, alongside McIlroy, Adam Scott, and Aaron Rai. McIlroy recorded five birdies and one bogey on Sunday, and his round included four missed birdies from less than 10 feet. This significantly reduced Patrick Reed's lead in the Race to the Dubai. McIlroy is heading towards his eighth title. "I am excited," said McIlroy. "I have three more tournaments until the end of my DP World Tour season. I am not sure about Patrick's schedule next. I feel that I have enough opportunities. I am excited about the opportunity. It would be obviously great to match Monty's record."
