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. It is sometimes called the British PGA Championship or European PGA Championship to avoid confusion with the PGA Championship (held in the United States), which is a major.
History The BMW PGA Championship was originally 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 tournament switched to September in 2019 as part of a revamp of the golfing calendar in which the US PGA Championship moved to May.
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. It previously 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.
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.
In 2021, Billy Horschel became only the second American to win the event, the first since Arnold Palmer in 1975.
Attendance In 2024, the event attracted 114,000 spectators.
Winners European Tour (Rolex Series)2022–European Tour (Flagship event and Rolex Series)2017–2021European Tour (Flagship event)1990–2016European Tour (Regular)1972–1989Pre-European Tour1955–1971 #YearWinnerScoreTo parMargin ofvictoryRunner(s)-upWinner'sshare (€)VenueBMW PGA Championship72nd2026 J. J. Spaun 271 −17 2 strokes Manuel Elvira Rory McIlroy Aaron Rai Adam Scott 1,304,227 Wentworth (West)71st2025 Alex Norén (2) 269 −19 Playoff Adrien Saddier 1,304,227 Wentworth (West)70th2024 Billy Horschel (2) 268 −20 Playoff Thriston Lawrence Rory McIlroy 1,370,338 Wentworth (West)69th2023 Ryan Fox 270 −18 1 stroke Tyrrell Hatton Aaron Rai 1,435,858 Wentworth (West)68th2022 Shane Lowry 199 −17 1 stroke Rory McIlroy Jon Rahm 1,351,106 Wentworth (West)67th2021 Billy Horschel 269 −19 1 stroke Kiradech Aphibarnrat Laurie Canter Jamie Donaldson 1,125,952 Wentworth (West)66th2020 Tyrrell Hatton269 −19 4 strokes Victor Perez 974,457 Wentworth (West)65th2019 Danny Willett268 −20 3 strokes Jon Rahm 1,056,662 Wentworth (West)64th2018 Francesco Molinari271 −17 2 strokes Rory McIlroy 995,394 Wentworth (West)63rd2017 Alex Norén277 −11 2 strokes Francesco Molinari 1,041,939 Wentworth (West)62nd2016 Chris Wood279 −9 1 stroke Rikard Karlberg 833,330 Wentworth (West)61st2015 An Byeong-hun267 −21 6 strokes Thongchai Jaidee Miguel Ángel Jiménez 833,330 Wentworth (West)60th2014 Rory McIlroy274 −14 1 stroke Shane Lowry 791,660 Wentworth (West)59th2013 Matteo Manassero278 −10 Playoff Simon Khan Marc Warren 791,660 Wentworth (West)58th2012 Luke Donald (2) 273 −15 4 strokes Paul Lawrie Justin Rose 750,000 Wentworth (West)57th2011 Luke Donald278 −6 Playoff Lee Westwood 750,000 Wentworth (West)56th2010 Simon Khan278 −6 1 stroke Fredrik Andersson Hed Luke Donald 750,000 Wentworth (West)55th2009 Paul Casey271 −17 1 stroke Ross Fisher 750,000 Wentworth (West)54th2008 Miguel Ángel Jiménez277 −11 Playoff Oliver Wilson 750,000 Wentworth (West)53rd2007 Anders Hansen (2) 280 −8 Playoff Justin Rose 725,000 Wentworth (West)BMW Championship52nd2006 David Howell271 −17 5 strokes Simon Khan 708,330 Wentworth (West)51st2005 Ángel Cabrera273 −15 2 strokes Paul McGinley 666,660 Wentworth (West)Volvo PGA Championship50th2004 Scott Drummond269 −19 2 strokes Ángel Cabrera 625,000 Wentworth (West)49th2003 Ignacio Garrido270 −18 Playoff Trevor Immelman 583,330 Wentworth (West)48th2002 Anders Hansen269 −19 5 strokes Colin Montgomerie Eduardo Romero 528,708 Wentworth (West)47th2001 Andrew Oldcorn272 −16 2 strokes Ángel Cabrera 544,521 Wentworth (West)46th2000 Colin Montgomerie (3) 271 −17 3 strokes Darren Clarke Lee Westwood Andrew Coltart 415,130 Wentworth (West)45th1999 Colin Montgomerie (2) 270 −18 5 strokes Mark James 303,350 Wentworth (West)44th1998 Colin Montgomerie274 −14 1 stroke Ernie Els Gary Orr Patrik Sjöland 280,000 Wentworth (West)43rd1997 Ian Woosnam (2) 275 −13 2 strokes Darren Clarke Ernie Els Nick Faldo 256,676 Wentworth (West)42nd1996 Costantino Rocca274 −14 2 strokes Nick Faldo Paul Lawrie 233,324 Wentworth (West)41st1995 Bernhard Langer (3) 279 −9 1 stroke Michael Campbell Per-Ulrik Johansson 210,000 Wentworth (West)40th1994 José María Olazábal271 −17 1 stroke Ernie Els 186,662 Wentworth (West)39th1993 Bernhard Langer (2) 274 −14 6 strokes Gordon Brand Jnr Colin Montgomerie Frank Nobilo 163,324 Wentworth (West)38th1992 Tony Johnstone272 −16 2 strokes Gordon Brand Jnr José María Olazábal 140,000 Wentworth (West)37th1991 Seve Ballesteros (2) 271 −17 Playoff Colin Montgomerie 116,662 Wentworth (West)36th1990 Mike Harwood271 −17 1 stroke John Bland Nick Faldo 93,324 Wentworth (West)35th1989 Nick Faldo (4) 272 −16 2 strokes Ian Woosnam 81,662 Wentworth (West)34th1988 Ian Woosnam274 −14 2 strokes Seve Ballesteros Mark James 70,000 Wentworth (West)Whyte & Mackay PGA Championship33rd1987 Bernhard Langer270 −18 4 strokes Seve Ballesteros 51,324 Wentworth (West)32nd1986 Rodger Davis281 −7 Playoff Des Smyth 49,000 Wentworth (West)31st1985 Paul Way282 −6 Playoff Sandy Lyle 42,000 Wentworth (West)30th1984 Howard Clark204 −12 2 strokes Gordon J. Brand Bernhard Langer 35,000 Wentworth (West)Sun Alliance PGA Championship29th1983 Seve Ballesteros278 −2 2 strokes Ken Brown Sandy Lyle 21,000 Royal St George's28th1982 Tony Jacklin (2) 284 −4 Playoff Bernhard Langer 18,662 Hillside27th1981 Nick Faldo (3) 274 −10 4 strokes Ken Brown Neil Coles 16,324Ganton26th1980 Nick Faldo (2) 283 +3 1 stroke Ken Brown 16,324 Royal St George'sColgate PGA Championship25th1979 Vicente Fernández288 E 1 stroke Baldovino Dassù Gary Player 11,662 St Andrews (Old)24th1978 Nick Faldo278 −10 7 strokes Ken Brown 14,000 Royal BirkdalePenfold PGA Championship23rd1977 Manuel Piñero283 +3 3 strokes Peter Oosterhuis 14,000 Royal St George's22nd1976 Neil Coles280 E Playoff Eamonn Darcy Gary Player 14,000 Royal St George's21st1975 Arnold Palmer285 +5 2 strokes Eamonn Darcy 14,000 Royal St George'sViyella PGA Championship20th1974 Maurice Bembridge278 −10 1 stroke Peter Oosterhuis 5,600 Wentworth (West)19th1973 Peter Oosterhuis280 −8 3 strokes Dale Hayes Donald Swaelens 3,071 Wentworth (West)18th1972 Tony Jacklin279 −9 3 strokes Peter Oosterhuis 3,070 Wentworth (West)Schweppes PGA Championship1970–71: No tournament17th1969 Bernard Gallacher293 +5 1 stroke John Garner Guy Wolstenholme Ashburnham15th1968(op.) David Talbot276 −8 5 strokes Bernard Hunt Dunbar13th1967(op.) Malcolm Gregson275 −13 3 strokes Hugh Boyle HunstantonPiccadilly PGA Close Championship16th1968(cl.) Peter Townsend275 −5 1 stroke Neil Coles Royal Mid-SurreyPGA Close Championship14th1967(cl.) Brian Huggett271 −13 8 strokes Jimmy Hitchcock Bernard Hunt Thorndon ParkSchweppes PGA Close Championship12th1966 Guy Wolstenholme278 −2 4 strokes George Will Saunton (East)11th1965 Peter Alliss (3) 286 −6 Playoff Peter Butler Prince's10th1964 Tony Grubb287 −1 2 strokes Lionel Platts Western Gailes9th1963 Peter Butler306 2 strokes Bobby Walker 1,000 Royal Birkdale8th1962 Peter Alliss (2) 287 1 stroke Ralph Moffitt Christy O'Connor Snr Little AstonSutton Coldfield 7th1961 Brian Bamford266 −11 3 strokes Peter Alliss Christy O'Connor Snr Royal Mid-SurreyRichmond PGA Close Championship6th1960 Arnold Stickley247 2 strokes Dai Rees Coventry5th1959 Dai Rees283 6 strokes Bernard Hunt David Snell Ashburnham4th1958 Harry Bradshaw287 1 stroke Dai Rees Maesdu3rd1957 Peter Alliss286 3 strokes Charlie Ward Maesdu2nd1956 Charlie Ward282 Playoff Eric Brown Maesdu1st1955 Ken Bousfield277 2 strokes Max Faulkner PannalHarrogate (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 Coverage on the European Tour's official site BMW Golfsport – official BMW golf site