DP World Tour: BMW PGA Championship Results Leaderboard
JJ Spaun birdied four of his last five holes to claim a dramatic maiden Rolex Series victory at the BMW PGA Championship.
The American entered the final day at Wentworth Club one shot off the lead but had slipped further behind and did not look to be in contention stood on the 14th tee as a host of fellow Major champions battled for the title.
A hat-trick of birdies changed all that, however, and when he also made a birdie on the last, he had set the target at -17 under with a 67.
It was not all over as Manuel Elvira eagled the 17th to join him at the summit but when the Spaniard double-bogeyed the last, Spaun had a second DP World Tour title following his victory at the 2025 U.S. Open.
Elvira signed for a 70 to finish in a share of second two shots back alongside Masters champions Rory McIlroy and Adam Scott and US PGA Championship winner Aaron Rai.
Spaun's victory makes him just the third American to win this title after Arnold Palmer and Billy Horschel and the first player to win it on debut since Byeong hun An in 2015.
"It means so much," he said. "You know, I've kind of blossomed into this player I never thought I could be, and to take my game across the world and more specifically here in England, a place that's dear to my family's heart, we vacation here quite a bit.
"The stars kind of aligned this week for me to come out on top and I'm just grateful to have the opportunity and play and play well and give myself a chance and came out with a W.
"I knew the whole day I had to stay patient because of the closing stretch at Wentworth because you could go eagle, eagle and you could also go bogey, bogey.
Spaun, who revealed he had used his omission from the Presidents Cup team as an inspiration this week, celebrated with wife Melody after the victory, and she had brought a surprise visitor in the form of a mask of UK broadcaster Jeremy Clarkson.
"We've grown fond of him, along with the English culture, we actually take holidays in December in the Cotswolds and we really enjoy his show," said Spaun. "I went to his pub, the Farmer's Dog, with the hopes to catch a glimpse of him but he wasn't around.
Overnight leader Elvira put his second at the 17th to nine feet and rolled in the eagle putt to join the lead and give Spaun an anxious wait.
But in search of a first professional win, Elvira made a mess of the 18th when found sand with his second, flew the green with his third up against the stands and took a drop which he chunked into the bunker in front of him, splashed out, missed the putt for a double bogey six, and with his head in his hands saw his dreams of winning dashed.
McIlroy carded a closing 68 to move past Patrick Reed at the top of the Race to Dubai Rankings, with Scott also carding a 68 and Rai signing for a 66 all T2 with Elvira on -15
Major winners Matt Fitzpatrick and Ryan Fox finished three shots off the lead -14 alongside Joost Luiten and Filippo Celli.
europeantour.com
Bryan Angus (edit)
