BMW PGA Championship 2026: JJ Spaun snatches victory at Wentworth, as Rory McIlroy comes unstuck despite late surge

JJ Spaun outlasted a packed leaderboard of players on Sunday at the BMW PGA Championship, as the American capitalised on a stumble from Spain's Manuel Elvira to win his debut title at Wentworth.

An utterly thrilling final round of golf unfolded, with multiple players, including Rory McIlroy, Aaron Rai and Elvira, racing to the finish line, but all struggled to pull away from the pack.

There was heartbreak for Elvira, who had the chance to leapfrog Spaun at the top of the leaderboard after tying the 2025 US Open champion with an eagle on the 17th hole.

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With Spaun already in the clubhouse at 17 under, the Spaniard, who is ranked 294th in the Official World Golf Rankings, needed a birdie on the 18th to win his first DP World Tour title, but he stumbled, finding a fairway bunker with his tee shot before sending his bunker shot well past the green.

He attempted to chip back on but agonisingly sent his shot into another bunker before ultimately confirming Spaun's two-stroke win with a double-bogey.

Elvira would tie McIlroy, Rai and Adam Scott at 15 under par for second place, as 13 players would finish within three shots of the lead.

McIlroy mixed in moments of brilliance with a few critical errors. The Northern Irishman also struggled to make birdie putts, but surged in his back nine, making birdies on holes 12, 14 and 17, to post a final-round score of 68.

Rai, who had taken the joint-lead after the first round, was impressive throughout his week at Wentworth, and the Englishman once again put the gas on as he tried to pull away from the chasing pack of players, taking the clubhouse lead before Spaun with a final-round 66.

Open champion Ryan Fox would join Matt Fitzpatrick, Joost Luiten and Filippo Celli tied for sixth place at 14 under.

Spaun, who was omitted from Brandt Snedeker's Team USA Presidents Cup squad, felt he had "taken care of business this week", showing his patience to bounce back from an early bogey on the first to card six birdies, and end with a score of 67.

"We [him and captain Brandt Snedeker] haven't spoken," the 36-year-old said. "But yeah, I played with a huge chip on my shoulder.

"I'm so delighted to be here and just play this event. I've always wanted to do this. The extra motivation, I think that is the willpower that you kind of have, determination.

"Being left off the Presidents Cup team a couple of weeks ago was very disappointing and I wanted to prove that I deserved to be on that team.

"I took care of my business this week, so all the best to my mates next week at Medinah, but I'll be on the couch watching."

Elvira 'devastated, but buoyed by performance

Elvira crouched down in frustration after missing his first putt on the 18th, cutting a shattered figure before eventually holing out for a double-bogey.

Despite coming up short, the Spaniard explained he was chuffed with his performance.

"Devastating that I hit the wrong shot at the right time on the lay-up and left myself the toughest shot in the fairway bunker, and I wasn't able to pull it off," he said.

"I've played some of the best golf, probably, of my life. I was in contention and I wasn't really that nervous. It's been a great week and I'm really glad for it."

McIlroy: I wish I had some of those putts back

After struggling to make an impact on the front nine, McIlroy found trouble on the 12th before producing an epic recovery shot around a cluster of trees, eventually going on to make birdie.

It was the spark the Northern Irishman needed, as he followed it with further birdies on the 14th and 17th. He came undone on the 18th, however, finding a fairway bunker before missing a putt for birdie.

"I wish I had some of those putts back," McIlroy said on his putting woes.

"But I have to be encouraged with where my game is at.

"Hit the ball really well. Hit the best I hit it during the course of the week and am encouraged with the signs that my game is going and just have to keep working at it."

What's next?

The next DP World Tour event is the FedEx Open de France, which gets under way on Thursday at Le Golf National, the venue for Europe's 2018 Ryder Cup triumph.

Meanwhile, Team USA will chase a record-extending 11th consecutive victory over the International Team at the Presidents Cup, which also begins on Thursday at Medinah Country Club in Illinois.

Coverage from the Open de France begins on Thursday at 12.30pm on Sky Sports Golf, with the Presidents Cup then live from 5.30pm. Get latest Sky Sports deals or stream with no contract on NOW.

(c) Sky Sports 2026: BMW PGA Championship 2026: JJ Spaun snatches victory at Wentworth, as Rory McIlroy comes unstuck despite late surge