Tag: Wentworth

Shane Lowry birdies the last to win BMW PGA Championship, beats Rory McIlroy, Jon Rahm by one stroke

“I don’t know how that missed.”

Shane Lowry gave an embrace to his friend Rory McIlroy as the latter strolled into the scoring tent.

“I don’t know how that missed,” Lowry said to McIlroy, referencing the 2022 FedEx Cup Champion’s eagle putt on the 18th hole at Wentworth Club in Surrey, England. Lowry missed an eagle only minutes earlier, instead tapping in for birdie to take the clubhouse lead at 17 under.

McIlroy needed his putt to tie. It crept ever so close to the hole and came to a stop, seemingly staring inside the cup from the right edge. He knocked in the birdie, but it wasn’t enough.

Lowry was victorious after a brilliant final round 7-under 65 to capture the 2022 BMW PGA Championship, the DP World Tour’s flagship event. Lowry was two shots back when the day began of overnight leaders Viktor Hovland and Soren Kjeldsen, but his birdie on the final hole, a par 5, gave him a one-shot victory over McIlroy and Jon Rahm, whose 8-under 29 (with a bogey) on the back nine Sunday propelled him into the clubhouse lead for the majority of the day.

2022 BMW PGA Championship
Rory McIlroy of Northern Ireland reacts after their putt for an eagle on the 18th hole stops short during the BMW PGA Championship at Wentworth Golf Club on September 11, 2022 in Virginia Water, England. (Photo by Warren Little/Getty Images)

“It has been a good year. I’ve felt like I’ve been close a few times,” Lowry said. “I love it here. I’ve contended here in the past. I’m so happy.”

Rahm shot a 10-under 62 in the final round, but he had five birdies and two eagles on his back nine to take the clubhouse lead until Lowry’s closing birdie. Lowry, meanwhile, eagled the par-5 fourth hole to begin his day and then made five birdies on the way in.

Lowry played all three rounds without recording a bogey. He became the first Irishman, and second all-time, to win the BMW PGA Championship since Harry Bradshaw in 1958.

McIlroy, meanwhile, shot 5 under in the final round to finish at 16 under for the tournament, which was reduced to 54 holes following the death of Queen Elizabeth II. He also narrowly missed a birdie on the par-5 17th hole that would’ve gotten him to 16 under and in a tie for the lead.

McIlroy was in the fairway on the 18th when Lowry carded his birdie to take the outright lead. He knew an eagle was needed, hitting a 4-iron from 242 yards to 23 feet, 6 inches.

Yet his eagle putt came up just short, giving his good friend Lowry his first victory since the Open Championship at Royal Portrush in 2019.

Talor Gooch finished solo fourth at 15 under. Before the leaders teed off, Patrick Reed completed a 9-under 63 to take the clubhouse lead at 14 under, but he finished in a tie for fifth with Hovland, Kjeldsen and Thomas Detry.

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Sergio Garcia withdraws from BMW PGA Championship, shows up on field at Texas-Alabama game

Garcia’s withdraw may raise some eyebrows.

Sergio Garcia withdrew from the BMW PGA Championship at Wentworth in Surrey, England, it was announced Saturday. There was no official reason given for Garcia’s withdrawal.

He finished his opening round Thursday, shooting a 4-over 76. Friday’s second round was postponed a day after the death of Queen Elizabeth II, and the tournament was reduced to 54 holes.

Yet Garcia apparently was satisfied with playing only 18.

Before kickoff of the Alabama at Texas college football game in Austin, Fox Sports cameras captured Garcia, the 2017 Masters winner and his wife, Angela, with 2022 Masters winner Scottie Scheffler, and his wife, Meredith, on the field before the game. Garcia’s withdrawal was announced early Saturday morning, and then he was in Austin ahead of the highly-anticipated college football matchup, which kicked off at noon ET Saturday.

Garcia, who’s playing on the LIV Golf series, wasn’t the only one to withdraw. Justin Rose, Ryan Fox and Kristoffer Broberg also pulled out of the event. Nino Bertasio and Andrea Pavan pulled out in the middle of their rounds, as well.

Scheffler, a 2018 Texas grad, received the PGA Tour’s Player of the Year award on ESPN’s College GameDay before kickoff.

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The BMW PGA Championship has been shortened to 54 holes, play to resume Saturday morning

Play will resume Saturday morning and will conclude Sunday.

On Thursday, Queen Elizabeth II passed away at the age of 96. The DP World Tour suspended play of the BMW PGA Championship at Wentworth in Surrey, England, and at the time was unsure when play would resume.

We now have an answer.

The second round will start 6:40 a.m. local time (1:40 a.m. ET) Saturday and players who did not finish their first rounds will return to the course at 7:30 a.m. local (2:30 a.m. ET). Original second-round tee times will remain the same.

The tournament has been shortened to 54 holes and will conclude Sunday.

Black ribbons will be available for players to wear during competition and flags will fly at half-staff.

At 9:50 a.m. local time (4:50 a.m. ET), there will be a two-minute moment of silence across the grounds in respect to Queen Elizabeth II.

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‘I have a right to wear it’: Despite being asked not to, Ian Poulter wears ‘Majesticks’ LIV Golf logo during first round of BMW PGA Championship

“This is a business I own a part of and I have a right to wear it.”

On August 31, ESPN reported the DP World Tour asked LIV Golf members not to wear anything LIV related on their apparel during the BMW PGA Championship at Wentworth.

Not everyone listened.

Ian Poulter already made headlines this week in Surrey, England, after being captured on video having a conversation with PGA Tour-backer and the event’s defending champion, Billy Horschel.

It’s unclear what the discussion was about.

During Thursday’s first round, Poulter wore a “Majesticks” logo on his sleeve. He appears to be the only one that went against the DP World Tour’s wishes.

“This is a business I own a part of and I have a right to wear it,” he said after signing for a 3-under 69.

Ian Poulter of England reacts under their umbrella as they play on the 4th hole during Day One of the BMW PGA Championship at Wentworth Golf Club on September 08, 2022, in Virginia Water, England. (Photo by Warren Little/Getty Images)

Poulter tied for 17th at LIV Golf Boston last week while his team finished third.

Patrick Reed wore a LIV Golf logo on his sleeve during Wednesday’s practice round, but judging by pictures from Thursday, did not wear anything LIV related during the first round.

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Watch: Billy Horschel and Ian Poulter have spirited interaction at BMW PGA Championship

What do you think they were talking about?

This week’s BMW PGA Championship on the DP World Tour is going to be must-watch TV.

Yes, the golf course is incredible. Yes, stars like Rory McIlroy and Jon Rahm are in the field.

But neither one of those reasons are the most intriguing.

Joining McIlroy, Rahm, Matt Fitzpatrick, and defending champion Billy Horschel at Wentworth in Surrey, England, are nearly 20 members of the LIV Golf Series who’ve made their way over the pond after their event in Boston last week.

The PGA Tour stars have been clear with their opinions on the Saudi-backed players’ presence at one of the DP World Tour’s flagship events, including Horschel.

BMW PGA: Picks to win | Leaderboard

“I honestly don’t think that the American guys who haven’t supported the Tour should be here. Abraham Ancer, Talor Gooch. 
 you’ve never played this tournament, you’ve never supported the DP World Tour,” Horschel said Tuesday. “Why are you here? You are here for one reason only and that’s to try to get world ranking points because you don’t have it (on LIV Golf).”

It’s unclear what the conversation was about, but the Florida Gator and LIV member Ian Poulter were caught having a spirited interaction Wednesday on the practice green.

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‘They are going to be pretty tired on Sunday. It will be the fourth day’: Rory McIlroy is clear with his feelings towards LIV Golf presence at BMW PGA Championship

“They are playing the golf tournament. My opinion is they shouldn’t be here, but that’s just my opinion.”

Rory McIlroy had quite the finish to his 2021-22 PGA Tour season. After opening his Tour Championship with a triple bogey, he came all the way back to take down world No. 1 Scottie Scheffler for his record third FedEx Cup.

Now, he’s in Surrey, England, for the BMW PGA Championship, one of the DP World Tour’s flagship events. Joining him are fellow Tour stars Jon Rahm, Matt Fitzpatrick and defending champion Billy Horschel, among others.

However, to the displeasure of many players in the field, 18 members of the LIV Golf Series will also be competing at Wentworth just a few days after their event in Boston wrapped with Dustin Johnson coming out on top thanks to a lengthy eagle putt on the first playoff hole.

“I honestly don’t think that the American guys who haven’t supported the Tour should be here. Abraham Ancer, Talor Gooch. 
 you’ve never played this tournament, you’ve never supported the DP World Tour,” Horschel said on Tuesday. “Why are you here? You are here for one reason only and that’s to try to get world ranking points because you don’t have it (on LIV Golf).”

BMW PGA: Picks to win | Leaderboard

On Wednesday, it was McIlroy’s turn to answer questions from the media and it’s no surprise that several of them centered around the presence of LIV members.

“It is what it is,” he said when asked about his feelings for them in the field. “They are here. They are playing the golf tournament. My opinion is they shouldn’t be here, but again that’s just my opinion. But we are all going to tee it up on the first tee tomorrow, and we are all going to go play 72 holes, which is a novelty for them at this point, and then we’ll go from there.”

Rory McIlroy of Northern Ireland tees off on the 4th hole during the BMW PGA Championship Pro-Am at Wentworth Golf Club on September 7, 2022, in England. (Photo by Andrew Redington/Getty Images)

When asked if battling with a LIV member down the stretch on Sunday for the win would add additional motivation, McIlroy delivered a dig that we’ve become accustomed to over the past several months.

“I mean, I’ll be trying to win a golf tournament regardless. They are going to be pretty tired on Sunday. It will be the fourth day.”

A few of the players who’ve been busy with their 54-hole, shotgun-start events over the last few months are Ian Poulter, Sergio Garcia and Lee Westwood who McIlroy has shared countless Ryder Cup moments with.

“I wouldn’t say I’ve got much of a relationship with them at the minute,” he said. “But again, if you’re just talking about Ryder Cup, that’s not the future of the Ryder Cup team.”

The next Ryder Cup isn’t until 2023, but McIlroy was asked if he’d suit up for the International Team at this month’s President Cup if he was called upon.

“One hundred percent. It’s at Quail Hollow. Have you seen me play Quail Hollow?”

It’s not an option, but fun to think about.

The four-time major champion has won three times at the North Carolina course, including the 2021 Wells Fargo Championship, the last time it held a PGA Tour event.

McIlroy’s most recent appearance at the BMW PGA came in 2019 where he tied for ninth. He won the event in 2014.

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