Danny Willett won the BMW PGA Championship by three shots after a thrilling weekend battle with Jon Rahm over the West Course at Wentworth.
The former Masters champion was locked in a tense contest with the determined Spaniard all weekend at the Surrey venue, and there were turning points aplenty for the 22,000 fans in attendance – but none more so than at the 11th hole on Sunday.
Having entered the final round tied for the lead, Willett had pulled two clear through ten holes courtesy of four birdies – to Rahm’s two – but found himself in some trouble with his second and third shots at the par-four 11th, leaving himself with a monster putt for bogey.
He duly drained it for a five, though, with one of his many masterful escapes this week, and thereafter the wind was taken from Rahm’s sails – the 24-year-old bogeyed two of the following three holes with a birdie in between.
Willett closed out a deserved victory on a damp and blustery afternoon with birdies at the two closing par fives for a five-under 67 and a 20-under total.
Rahm went for broke on the final hole by going for the green with his second shot, which ended up in the water, but he got up and down from the drop zone and signed for a final round 70 and a 17-under total.
South African Christiaan Bezuidenhout took outright third on 16 under after closing out the week with a 68. Americans Billy Horschel and Patrick Reed, debutants at Wentworth, shared fourth place, while Justin Rose finished eighth after making a mess of the back nine, which included two double bogeys, while Rory McIlroy, whose opening rounds of 76 and 69 saw him make the cut by the minimum margin, fired weekend rounds of 65 and 67 to jump into a share of ninth with Andrew Johnston.
Willett, who moves back into the top 30 in the world rankings with his seventh career win, said: “I obviously got off to a quick start, and 11 was a real big point in the tournament. I’ve watched a lot of the golf on TV and the people that win every week are not the guys that hit every fairway and hit everything to six feet. Certain things happen through the week. But for it to happen on Sunday, early on in the back nine, was crucial just to keep my nose in front and give me that little bit of breathing space down them last six holes.”
He added: “To be able to win this championship, on such an iconic golf course, with what was one the best fields ever assembled, means so much to me. Having won the DP World Championship last year, and now this, both Rolex Series events, has really put my game back on track.”
Rahm, who looked in complete control of his ball all week, only to fall short on the back nine on Sunday, was clearly disappointed with the result. “I’m not going to lie. It hurts. It stings,” he said. “I played good all week, up until the 13th, but I didn’t hit my irons close enough to the pin and made a couple stupid mistakes. I should have come closer than two shots on the last two holes. I had my chances. I’m just going to have to figure out why it happened and that’s it.”
Despite the indifferent weather on Sunday, over 21,000 spectators came through the gates to watch the final round, while the three previous days, all played in beautiful autumn sunshine, also drew sizeable crowds. Wednesday’s Pro-Am also attracted over 15,000 fans.
What’s in the bag – Danny Willett
Driver: Callaway Rogue (9°)
Fairway Wood: Callaway Rogue (15°)
Utility: Callaway X Forged UT (18° and 24°)
Irons: Callaway X Forged ‘18 (5-9)
Wedges: Callaway Mack Daddy Forged (46°); Callaway Mack Daddy 4 (50º, 56° & 60°)
Putter: Odyssey Stroke Lab Tuttle
Ball: Callaway Chrome Soft X