BMW PGA Championship: The Debrief

What a week it was at Wentworth Golf Club.

The Rolex Series was back where it all began last week as Wentworth Golf Club hosted the BMW PGA Championship.

Alex Noren claimed a stunning victory in 2017 at the inaugural Rolex Series event and Danny Willett joined him as a two time winner of the European Tour's blue riband events as he held off the challenge of Jon Rahm down the stretch on Sunday.

Bumper crowds flocked to HQ for a festival of golf and here are just a few of the highlights from an incredible week both on and off the course.

Willett rises to the occasion.......again

Danny Willett was already a four time winner on the European Tour when he arrived at Augusta National in 2016 but his Green Jacket victory at the Masters Tournament catapulted him to international fame and the top ten in the Official World Golf Ranking. Just over two years later after a loss of form, fitness and his love for the game, Willett missed the cut at Wentworth and fell to 462nd in the world. Fast forward four months and his first win since a Major came at a Rolex Series event at the DP World Tour Championship, Dubai. Another ten months on and he cards a closing 67 to hold off the challenge of World Number Six Jon Rahm, win Rolex Series title number two and move into the top 40 himself. The comeback king, a man for the big occasion, all hail wonderful Willett.

Fisher's big bird makes history

Wentworth has seen many incredible things in the many years it has been hosting the European Tour's flagship event but on Saturday it witnessed a first as Ross Fisher made an albatross on the 18th at the West Course. Faced with 218 yards for his second shot, the Englishman pulled out a four iron and despite admitting he pulled it slightly, the ball cleared the water and rolled into the cup, sending the huge crowds in the grandstand into raptures. Fisher now not only has a place in the record books, but a BMW i8 Roadster Rosso Corsa worth £132,930.

Horschel falls in love with Wentworth

Billy Horschel has been watching the BMW PGA Championship since he was 12 years old and this week he made his debut at Wentworth Golf Club. After a quiet start on Thursday, he holed out from over the water on the eighth en route to a second round 65 - the lowest ever score by an American at the West Course. A slam dunk chip-in followed on Saturday and he chipped in again on Sunday en route to another 65 and a tie for fourth. "I'll tell everyone that came, if they are thinking about coming over here, go ahead and book that ticket," he said. "The way the European Tour puts on a great event, the fans, everything that encompasses this event can rival the best of the best on the PGA Tour." We're glad you enjoyed it, Billy and we can't wait to have you back.

Party time in the village

This is the BMW. The signs all around the course said it loud and proud and that meant the event was something different. On Saturday night it was the turn of Rudimental to bring something special, producing an hour long set of hits in the spectator village that had the fans partying like it was the Pyramid Stage at Glastonbury. Anne-Marie joined them on stage before doing her own set on Sunday, a set watched by another big crowd including 14 fans who had arrived before daylight to get down the front of the stage for her performance. The BMW - a golf event like no other.

Goodbye to a great

Last week José María Olazábal played his 25th BMW PGA Championship, 25 years after he lifted the trophy at Wentworth Golf Club. His 25th appearance was also his last and he was given a fitting send off as fellow Spaniards Rahm, Rafa Cabrera Bello, Gonzalo Fernandez-Castaño, Jorge Campillo, Alvaro Quiros, Adrian Otaegui and Nacho Elvira gave him a guard of honour. It was an emotional goodbye to the two time Major winner and while he may not play this event anymore, he will always be a VIP at HQ.