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Four-time Major Champion confirms his participation in the
first Rolex Series event. - McIlroy won the prestigious BMW PGA Championship title in 2014.
- McIlroy looking forward to playing the new-look Wentworth Club.
Munich/Wentworth. Rory McIlroy has confirmed his participation
in the 2017 BMW PGA Championship – the first tournament in the
European Tour’s new Rolex Series, a series of eight tournaments, all
with a minimum prize fund of $7million – with the Northern Irishman
set to headline the field at a revamped Wentworth Club from May
25-28. The four-time Major Champion, who won the prestigious title
in 2014, will take on the new-look West Course, which has been
undergoing extensive changes since last year’s BMW PGA Championship.
McIlroy said: “The BMW PGA Championship is the first Rolex Series
event and I’m really excited for that. I think it’s a huge thing for
the European Tour and I want to be a part of it. BMW have been a huge
supporter of golf for a number of years now and I’m happy to come back
to Wentworth.”
McIlroy announced his participation in the BMW PGA Championship at
the BMW SA Open hosted by City of Ekurhuleni where he is a guest of
tournament host Ernie Els, the South African who has also overseen the
course changes at Wentworth.
The World Number Two will be looking to reclaim the title he won
three years ago when he came from seven shots behind with a closing
round of 66 to claim a memorable victory at the Wentworth Club. That
victory sparked an unforgettable summer for the Ryder Cup star who
went on to win The Open Championship, the WGC-Bridgestone Invitational
and the US PGA Championship.
“I’m excited to get back to Wentworth and hopefully I can emulate
some of the golf I played in 2014,” said McIlroy. “The BMW PGA
Championship feels like the start of the British golf season and you
know everyone is excited. Playing in front of those fans is always
pleasure because they are so knowledgeable and they come out in their
numbers, so it’s always great to play in front of them.”
As part of the Rolex Series, the BMW PGA Championship will feature
significantly enhanced television and digital production, as well as
increased hours of coverage distributed worldwide, while after-play
concerts and a star studded celebrity Pro-Am will also be part of the
line-up of entertainment.