No fewer than 11 Major Champions will tee up in a sparkling field for the diamond edition of the BMW PGA Championship at Wentworth Club later this month.
Justin Rose, last year’s US Open Champion, is joined by four-time Major winner Ernie Els and 2011 Masters Tournament champion Charl Schwartzel for the 60th edition of The European Tour’s flagship event, while Northern Ireland’s trio of Major winners, Darren Clarke, Graeme McDowell and Rory McIlroy, will attempt to win the title for the first time.
Padraig Harrington, a three-time Major champion, Martin Kaymer, the 2010 US PGA Champion, Retief Goosen, the two-time US Open Champion, and Michael Campbell, who won the 2005 US Open Championship, are also in the star-studded line-up.
In addition, the diamond anniversary celebrations will be boosted by the reuniting of all 12 players from Europe’s victorious 2012 Ryder Cup team, plus Captain José María Olazábal, a two-time Major winner and former BMW PGA Champion.
Ian Poulter, who won four points from five in inspiring Europe to what is now known as the ‘Miracle at Medinah’, will return to Wentworth’s hallowed West Course, as will his team-mates Nicolas Colsaerts, Luke Donald, Sergio Garcia, Peter Hanson, Paul Lawrie, Francesco Molinari and Lee Westwood.
Donald will attempt to become only the fifth player in history to win the BMW PGA Championship three times or more, following his magnificent back-to-back triumphs in 2011 and 2012. He would follow Sir Nick Faldo (four victories), Peter Alliss, Bernhard Langer and Colin Montgomerie (all three victories).
The Englishman is one of five former World Number Ones in action, with McIlroy, Westwood, Els and Kaymer all having reached the summit of the Official World Golf Ranking in the past.
Henrik Stenson, who won The 2013 Race to Dubai in such swashbuckling fashion, makes his first appearance in the event since 2010, while current Race to Dubai leader Thomas Björn will be seeking a 16th European Tour victory, and his first at Wentworth Club.
Italy’s 21 year old Matteo Manassero will defend the title, having won in record-breaking style 12 months ago, when he became the youngest winner in the event’s history. At the other end of the spectrum, Miguel Ángel Jiménez, one of eight BMW PGA Champions in the field, will be looking to extend his record as The European Tour’s oldest champion.
The Spaniard will be joined at Wentworth by fellow former winners Donald, Simon Khan, Paul Casey, David Howell, Scott Drummond and Olazábal.
Jamie Birkmyre, Championship Director of the BMW PGA Championship, said: “The BMW PGA Championship is our flagship event and I am delighted that the British public will get to see so many of the world’s best golfers in action in this special anniversary year. To have 11 Major Champions, and all of the Medinah Ryder Cup team, is a real coup. Fans coming to Wentworth this year are in for a real treat.”
Peter Walker, General Manager of BMW Sports Marketing, said: “The BMW PGA Championship is one of the highlights of the British sporting calendar and it is fantastic to see so many of the world’s top golfers confirmed for this year’s event. 2014 marks BMW’s 10th year as title Partner and this is, without doubt, one of the highest quality fields we have seen during that time. With the 2014 Ryder Cup looming on the horizon, the players will be desperate to impress Captain, Paul McGinley. All the ingredients are in place for another sensational BMW PGA Championship.”
Advance tickets are selling fast onwww.europeantour.com/ticketswhile hospitality packages, reserved grandstand seating at the 18th green and limited on-site parking are almost sold out. Children aged 16 and under will be admitted free of charge if accompanied by an adult ticket holder.
As in previous years, BMW Owners and Official Badge Holders will be able to park on site, while pre-paid parking on Wentworth Estate is now completely sold out. All other ticket holders – and spectators turning up on the day to purchase tickets on the gate – will need to utilise the popular Park and Ride service.
For further information, or to book tickets, visitwww.europeantour.com
Follow all the news on BMW golf activities onwww.bmw-golfsport.com
