Rory McIlroy hungry for second BMW PGA Championship title

Rory McIlroy - TheGolfingHub
Rory McIlroy leads the Race to Dubai Rankings in Partnership with Rolex after earning his third Rolex Series title in Dubai in January, and has continued to strengthen his position at the summit with a runner-up finish in June’s U.S. Open and a tie for fourth at the second Rolex Series event of the year in Scotland. Photo: Getty Images

Rory McIlroy has his sights set on a second BMW PGA Championship title when he tees it up at Wentworth Club this week.

Related: Rasmus Hojgaard claims Amgen Irish Open glory

The Northern Irishman won at the prestigious Surrey venue in 2014 and has since finished second twice, with two further top tens, and he arrives this week after coming close to an 18th DP World Tour victory at the Amgen Irish Open.

 

View this post on Instagram

 

A post shared by DP World Tour (@dpworldtour)

The four-time Major winner currently leads the Race to Dubai Rankings in Partnership with Rolex after earning his third Rolex Series title in Dubai in January, and has continued to strengthen his position at the summit with a runner-up finish in June’s U.S. Open and a tie for fourth at the second Rolex Series event of the year in Scotland.

McIlroy is joined in the field for the 70th edition of the BMW PGA Championship by European Ryder Cup team-mate Tommy Fleetwood, who is searching for his second victory of the season after his triumph at the Dubai Invitational.

 

View this post on Instagram

 

A post shared by DP World Tour (@dpworldtour)

The Englishman has enjoyed another strong year, which has also included a Silver Medal for Team GB at the Olympics Games in Paris last month.

The third Rolex Series event of the year boasts a strong field, with Fleetwood and McIlroy joined by fellow Ryder Cup stars including Scotland’s Robert MacIntyre, who won his national Open in July as well as his maiden PGA TOUR title at the RBC Canadian Open.

 

View this post on Instagram

 

A post shared by DP World Tour (@dpworldtour)

MacIntyre, who is targeting a second Ryder Cup appearance in New York next year, was joined at Wentworth by fellow Scot and recently retired tennis star Andy Murray in front of packed galleries at Wednesday’s ever-popular Celebrity Pro-Am.

Player quotes

Rory McIlroy: Here at Wentworth, the sun is shining and so many people out there on a Wednesday. There’s not many better places to be. So, excited to be here.

I’m glad for the opportunity to get back on the horse again. I think there may be a misconception that it hit me harder than it maybe did (missing out on the Amgen Irish Open title). You know, I didn’t really feel like I necessarily lost the tournament. I felt like Rasmus went out and won it. Shot 31 on the back nine.

Obviously just trying to look for the positives in all of it but yeah, happy to get here. My game is feeling like it’s in pretty good shape and I feel like I have another chance to win a really big tournament that means a lot to me.

It feels like quite a long time since I won at Quail Hollow back in May, and I’ve come close here a couple of times. I was second to Francesco in 2018; second to Shane in 2022.

My form at this tournament over the last few years has been very good. So yeah, it would be niece to just get another win on the board. It’s felt like awhile. And I’ve played some very good golf in that stretch, just not been able to get over the line.