Widely regarded as one of the most prestigious tournaments in professional golf, the BMW PGA Championship has been a part of the DP World Tour’s International Schedule since its inception in 1972.
The tournament boasts a rich and storied history during which some of the game’s great players have celebrated victory.
This year’s edition, from September 8-11, will be the 68th playing of the championship, dating back to 1955 with the West Course at Wentworth Club playing host since 1984.
Here, as the Tour continues to celebrate its 50th anniversary in the 2022 season, we look back at five of the best moments to have taken place at Wentworth.
Monty's hat-trick
To win the BMW PGA Championship once is a feat most golfers dream of. Only nine players have won the event more than once since it was first staged in 1955. In 2000, Colin Montgomerie added his name to the history books when he won the tournament for the third year in a row. The Scot held a three-shot lead going into the final round but was caught by countryman Andrew Coltart after seven holes. He regained the momentum with birdies at the eighth, 11th, 12th and 13th on his way to a three-shot victory at Wentworth Club. No player had ever won the event three years in succession on the Tour. "Records are there to be broken," he said after his 29th win as a professional. "I'm just glad it's me.” Recently-announced Ryder Cup Captain Luke Donald is the only active Tour player with an opportunity to equal Monty’s three victories in this year’s field.
Donald on top of the world… and again
In May 2011, Donald became the World Number One on the Official World Golf Ranking for the first time in his career after a play-off against previous incumbent Lee Westwood at Wentworth. The field included all four current Major Champions and seven of the game’s top nine as record crowds arrived in their droves to the West Course. After the English duo finished level after 72 holes, Donald, who had finished as runner-up in the event the year before, sealed victory at the first extra hole when he pitched his third shot to six feet on his way to a birdie while Westwood saw his approach shot spin back into the water. "It is something you always dream about," he said when asked about his status as the new World Number One. "You never know if you will get there. This took a lot of hard work and a lot of effort.” A year after reaching the summit of the men’s game for the first time, a reign which lasted ten months, Donald returned to World Number One in style by retaining his BMW PGA Championship title in 2012.
Jiménez breaks Tour hole-in-one record
Miguel Ángel Jiménez has long been thrilling crowds around the world, with hole-in-ones somewhat of a speciality for the fan favourite from Spain. At the 2015 BMW PGA Championship, 25 years after his first ace in 1990, Jiménez set a record on the DP World Tour as he broke Colin Montgomerie’s previous best of nine hole-in-ones. Jiménez, who had equalled the Scot’s record only the week before at the Open de España, made another ace at the par-three second at Wentworth during the third round. With a nine iron in hand, Jiménez holed out from 154 yards to the great joy of both player and fans alike as he marked the feat with his customary dance of delight. “It’s nice to have the record,” said Jiménez at the time. “I have also holed a couple of times from the middle of the fairway. That means my irons, they are like darts.”
Course record and victory for Noren
Alex Noren shot a sublime course record-equalling ten under 62 to race through the field and claim the biggest victory of his career at the BMW PGA Championship in 2017. An eagle at the 72nd hole saw the Swede close out his round in style as he equalled the event’s biggest final-round comeback of seven shots to become the first ever Rolex Series winner. An early starter, Noren birdied three of his first four holes and picked up six shots in his last seven holes to set the clubhouse target at 11 under par before he waited and watched as those behind were unable to catch him. Reflecting on his five iron to five feet at the last, Noren said: “I knew I had a shot at the 62 but it’s not the easiest eagle hole. It was probably one of the best shots I’ve ever hit. I finished on a bad double there yesterday, trying to hit close.”
Albatross lands Fisher a BMW
Ross Fisher has a long history with Wentworth having joined the club as a member in his junior days. The former scholar produced a moment of magic in 2019 when he recorded the first ever albatross on the par five 18th at the West Course. The hole-out two with a four iron from 218 yards was also the second albatross since the launch of the Rolex Series at the same venue in 2017. His reward was a BMW i8 from the tournament sponsors worth £132,930, and the moment was made more special with his family present at the venue. "It was the best shot I've ever hit by a long way," he said. "I slightly pulled it, looked away in disgust thinking it was too far left, and I heard the crowd's reaction as obviously it made the carry and the big cheer. I just looked at (caddie) Lee and it was like, 'oh my God, it's gone in, won the car'. Still a bit shocked really. Just surreal. What a great day.”
