Spurned from Presidents Cup, Spaun wins BMW PGA Championship in statement performance

J.J. Spaun of the United States claimed the title at the BMW PGA Championship, the flagship event of the DP World Tour.

Spaun carded a 5-under-par 67 on Sunday — six birdies against one bogey — at the West Course of Wentworth Club in Virginia Water, near London, to finish at 17-under-par 271 and win by two strokes. Manuel Elvira of Spain, Rory McIlroy of Northern Ireland, Adam Scott of Australia and Aaron Rai of England shared second place.

The outcome swung dramatically over the final five holes. Spaun reeled off three consecutive birdies on holes 14 through 16 to move to the top of the leaderboard, then coolly added another birdie on the par-5 18th to pick up four strokes over the closing stretch and seal the victory.

For Elvira, playing in the final group, the 18th proved a nightmare. He had drawn level with Spaun by holing a 2.7-meter eagle putt on the par-5 17th, but then found a bunker on the par-5 18th and made double bogey, squandering what would have been his first tour victory.

Heading to the 18th, Elvira needed only a par to force a playoff and a birdie to win outright. Instead, his second layup shot caught the lip of a fairway bunker, setting off a chain of misfortune. His third shot from the difficult lie flew well past the green toward a spectator stand. After taking a free drop, his fourth shot found a greenside bunker, and he ultimately needed five strokes to reach the putting surface before two-putting for double bogey.

The victory carries special significance for Spaun. He was left off the captain's picks list for the 2026 Presidents Cup United States team, announced earlier this month, receiving only a brief message from captain Brandt Snedeker that there was no room for him. Spaun used the BMW PGA Championship to make his case on the course, overpowering a world-class field.

"Missing out on the Presidents Cup was a huge disappointment. I wanted to prove on the course that I deserved to be there," Spaun said in his post-round interview. "I played with a fierce competitive drive all week. I'm absolutely thrilled to have won at the perfect moment."