-
The flagship event of the European Tour at the Wentworth
Club (London) is one of the highlights of the golf season and the
third event of the Rolex Series. -
Celebrity Pro-Am, live concerts and spectators as
knowledgeable as they are enthusiastic: the BMW PGA Championship
is a “Festival of Golf”. -
It represents the final chance for European players to claim
qualification points for the Ryder Cup in Whistling Straits. -
Hole-in-One Award for a good cause: for the first
hole-in-hole at the 14th, BMW will donate around £80,000 pounds
(the equivalent value of a BMW iX) to the Alzheimer’s Society. The
player will keep the fully-electric vehicle for one year.
A Hollywood star had the honour of opening the BMW PGA
Championship tournament week. British actor Tom Holland, well known
for playing Spider-Man in numerous Marvel productions, teed off in
the Celebrity-Pro Am on Wednesday morning in front of the iconic
Wentworth clubhouse. A host of celebrities took the opportunity to
enjoy the West Course and the return of tens of thousands of
spectators at the opening of “The Players’ Flagship”. Tomorrow will
see a world-class field of players join battle for the title, second
only to the Open in European golf. Some of the pros will also be
looking to secure a spot at the Ryder Cup.
Holland went round the course with his twin brother Harry and
Europe’s Ryder Cup captain Padraig Harrington. It is the first time
that the 25-year-old has competed in the BMW PGA Championship Pro-Am.
The same applied to English pro footballer Adam Lallana and former
tennis pro Daniela Hantuchová (CZE). More top-level sportspeople were
also swinging their clubs: Olympic gold medalists James Guy (ENG,
swimming), Samantha Quek (ENG, hockey) and Denise Lewis (ENG,
heptathlon), as well as former world football stars Robbie Fowler,
Paul Ince and Andrij Schewtschenko. Pop music also enjoyed renowned
representation from chart-toppers like Ronan Keating, Niall Horan,
Brain McFadden and Keith Duffy.
Facts about the BMW PGA Championship 2021.
Venue.
Wentworth Club, London. Home of the European Tour
West Course (7,267 yards/6,646 metres, par 72).
Course record: Alex Noren (SWE, 62 strokes, 2017).
Defending champion.
Tyrrell Hatton (ENG).
Ryder Cup Qualification.
The BMW PGA Championship represents the final chance for European
golfers to score points for the Ryder Cup or to get themselves
noticed. Eight players will qualify for the squad led by captain
Padraig Harrington (IRL), and four more will qualify as wild cards.
This quartet will be announced by Harrington on Sunday evening at the
Wentworth Club.
Playing field.
The field battling for the prestigious BMW PGA Championship title includes:
- Major winners Adam Scott (AUS), Shane Lowry (IRL), Justin Rose
(ENG), Francesco Molinari (ITA), Henrik Stenson (SWE), Martin Kaymer
(GER), Danny Willett (ENG), Graeme McDowell (NIR). - 2014 FedExCup champion Billy Horschel (USA).
- 2011 and 2012 BMW PGA Championship winner Luke Donald (ENG).
- Reigning BMW International Open winner Viktor Hovland (NOR).
- Ryder Cup stars Lee Westwood, Ian Poulter, Tommy Fleetwood, Matt
Fitzpatrick (all ENG), Alex Noren (SWE).
Charity.
The Alzheimer’s Society is the largest British charitable
organisation that supporting people with dementia and their carers. If
a player scores a hole-in-one at the 14th, BMW will donate £78,370,
the value of this year’s Hole-in One Car – a fully-electric BMW iX
xDrive40 Sport – to the Alzheimer’s Society. The player will also be
able to use the car for a term of one year. The European Tour will
donate 10 Euro for each birdie recorded in the tournament, and 100
Euro for each eagle.
Prize money.
8 million US dollars.
Festival of Golf.
Celebrity Pro-Am, the Championship Village, the delightful yet
challenging West Course, the spectators: the BMW PGA Championship is
an atmospheric festival of golf. The live concerts at the weekend in
the Championship Village will also contribute to the unique flair of
the BMW PGA Championship. Saturday evening will feature an appearance
by chart-toppers “Clean Bandit”, followed by rock trio “Feeder” on Sunday.
Previous BMW PGA Championship winners.
2020 Tyrrell Hatton (ENG)
2019 Danny Willett (ENG)
2018 Francesco Molinari (ITA)
2017 Alex Noren (SWE)
2016 Chris Wood (ENG)
2015 Byeong-hun An (KOR)
2014 Rory McIlroy (NIR)
2013 Matteo Manassero (ITA)
2012 Luke Donald (ENG)
2011 Luke Donald (ENG)
2010 Simon Khan (ENG)
2009 Paul Casey (ENG)
2008 Miguel Ángel Jiménez (ESP)
2007 Anders Hansen (DEN)
2006 David Howell (ENG)
2005 Angel Cabrera (ARG)