Wonderful Willett reigns at Wentworth
BMW PGA Championship report: What happened at Wentworth?
Danny Willett mastered a stellar field at Wentworth to win his seventh European Tour title – and his first on British soil.
The Englishman began the final round of the BMW PGA Championship in a tie with three-time Rolex Series winner Jon Rahm.
It all pointed to a titanic tussle but Willett oozed confidence as he carved out a 67 – ensuring all four of his rounds were in the 60s – and posted a 20-under-par total that was three shots too good for the Spaniard.
The guy knows how to win on the biggest of stages.
pic.twitter.com/7Pn4M14aZ5— NCG (@NCG_com) September 22, 2019
The key moment arrived at the 11th when Willett found himself in some serious trouble – dodging trees, heather and then a bunker as a big score beckoned.
If only I could make bogey from this position.
Outstanding. pic.twitter.com/vY8TkcAIBL
— NCG (@NCG_com) September 22, 2019
But he backed himself and the long putt he holed for bogey was, in hindsight, possibly the shot that sealed the victory.
Aside for a brief scare with his wrist, jarred when hitting out of that heather, Willett continued to strike the ball supremely well and closed out his win with back-to-back birdies.
Rahm struggled with distance control all day – no better example seen when he found the water on 18, which merely rubber-stamped Willett’s success – and he had to settle for solo second.
Viktor Hovland announced himself on the European stage as he tied for 11th alongside Open champion Shane Lowry on 10-under-par.
The Americans who made the trip over the water put on a great show for the spectators – with Billy Horschel and Patrick Reed the pick and each finishing tied for fourth on 15-under-par.
Both were making their debuts in the event and Horschel’s appearance was eye-catching.
Bogey free 65s on Friday and Sunday made sure of a top 10 finish and he proved entertaining to watch by holing out from off the green on more than one occasion.
LeBron James would be jealous. pic.twitter.com/1R5EhfQGx6
— NCG (@NCG_com) September 21, 2019
BMW PGA Championship report: Talking points
Twenty-five years on from his win at Wentworth, when he beat Ernie Els by a stroke, Jose Maria Olazabal made his final appearance at the BMW PGA Championship.
He said farewell to the Surrey crowds on Friday evening after missing the cut, following rounds of 78 and 72. Olazabal played alongside good friend Miguel Angel Jimenez and there were a host of Spain’s best waiting to salute him off the 18th green.
Rahm, Cabrera Bello, Fernandez-Castano, Campillo, Quiros, Otaegui, Elvira.
The list of Spanish players that waited around to salute a Spanish legend 🇪🇸 pic.twitter.com/MegDtPi391
— The European Tour (@EuropeanTour) September 20, 2019
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Rory McIlroy headed the betting at the beginning of the week and many had him down as the man to beat.
Much as in the first round at Royal Portrush, however, the Northern Irishman looked out of sorts and struggled to a tame opening round of 76 which finished triple bogey, bogey.
Having reportedly struggled with alignment issues during his disappointing first outing, he knew he’d have to improve significantly to stick around for the weekend.
Rory's recovery 😲#BMWPGA #RolexSeries pic.twitter.com/1r9CdlVsXN
— The European Tour (@EuropeanTour) September 20, 2019
He opened with a birdie at the 1st and looked like a different character. With just one bogey on the card, he shot -3 to make the cut on the number.
The weekend was considerably more positive and his Saturday round of 65 saw him rocket up into the top 10 – a far cry from the slump he was in on Thursday afternoon.
Standard.
pic.twitter.com/REXJbe3A15— NCG (@NCG_com) September 19, 2019
McIlroy closed out his week with a five-under 67 and this was good enough to see him secure a share of 8th place.
Had McIlroy been able to find this weekend form in the opening stages, he could well have been the winner at Wentworth once again.
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A rare bird was seen on Saturday as Ross Fisher carded an Albatross two on the West Course’s 18th hole.
The Englishman had 225-yards to the pin on the par-5 last and struck the perfect four iron which trickled into the hole.
🚨 ALBATROSS ALERT 🚨 @RossFisher wins a @BMW_UK i8 Rosso Corsa worth £132,930!#BMWPGA #RolexSeries pic.twitter.com/3Nf3LQxhvY
— The European Tour (@EuropeanTour) September 21, 2019
The shot delighted the Wentworth crowd and Fisher even more so. The hole-out saw him win a BMW i8 from the sponsors.
"This feels very surreal, I'm still in shock"
How it feels to make an albatross and win a BMW! #BMWPGA #RolexSeries pic.twitter.com/NklURQTI4q
— The European Tour (@EuropeanTour) September 22, 2019
**
There’s just more than 12 months until the eyes of the golfing world turn to Whistling Straits, Wisconsin for the 2020 Ryder Cup.
The BMW PGA Championship marked the start of the year long qualification process for the Europeans.
Strong performance alongside the captain 💪#BMWPGA #RolexSeries pic.twitter.com/S8Ct6iZDZt
— Ryder Cup Europe (@RyderCupEurope) September 20, 2019
At this very event in next season, qualification will conclude and we will know the identity of the first eight players headed for the USA.
Captain Padraig Harrington will be delighted to see two Europeans topping the leaderboard on the opening week.
Joe Hughes
Tour editor covering men's golf, women's golf and anything else that involves the word golf, really. The talk is far better than the game, but the work has begun to change that.
